Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol was named the 2011-12 winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced Friday. The award, named after the second commissioner of the NBA, is presented annually by the PBWA to the player, coach or trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community. "It means a lot," Gasol said after the Lakers' shootaround on Friday in preparation for Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. "I think it's a great honor for any player to receive it and get recognized for your off-the-court work and commitment. I think it's very encouraging to me and I think it should be to any player to have the opportunity to give back to their community, make the community better, be a role model to all the other kids and the rest of the people. I think it's real important when you have that opportunity that you maximize it for the betterment of others." Read more: http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...akers-wins-j-walter-kennedy-citizenship-award
