CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James has been named one of 10 nominees for the 2017-18 NBA Cares Community Assist Award.

James, who was recently asked about his legacy and said it's "bigger than basketball," joins Ricky Rubio, DeMarcus Cousins, J.J. Barea, Kevin Durant, CJ McCollum, Dwyane Wade, Mike Conley Jr., Jabari Parker and Kemba Walker as the NBA players who best reflect the passion that the league and its players share for community work.

The 10 nominees include the offseason winner (Cousins), six monthly winners and three additional players selected by the NBA for their exceptional community work.

James received the nomination after being named the NBA Cares Community Assist winner for the month of December -- a recognition of all the positive work he does in his hometown of Akron and across Northeast Ohio.

"To be able to support and create opportunities for the kids in Akron who are in danger of falling through the cracks means everything to me because I was one of those kids," James said in December. "I'm proud and excited to create a school and provide resources that will help these students earn an education that will change their lives and give them a better future."

Fans and an NBA executive panel will choose the recipient of the season-long award, which will be handed out at the 2018 NBA Awards presented by Kia on Monday, June 25.

Voting opened today at noon on social media and will run through May 6. Fans can vote for their seasonlong choice on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using two separate hashtags (#NBACommunityAssist and #FirstNameLastName).

So in this case, if fans would like to vote for James, the two things that need to be included are #NBACommunityAssist and #LeBronJames.

The NBA and Kaiser Permanente will donate $25,000 to the winner's charity of choice.

NBA Cares is the league's global social responsibility program that builds on the NBA's mission of addressing important social issues. NBA Cares programs and participants have provided more than 4.3 million hours of hands-on service and created more than 1,125 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in communities around the world.

Isaiah Thomas won the award for the 2016-17 season.