The National Basketball Association announced Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill as the winner of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award. Hill got the nod for his volunteering efforts and his vocal stance on controversial social justice issues. Hill led the team’s effort to boycott a playoff matchup against Orlando in the wake of the officer-involved shooting of Justin Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 

The NBA’s playoff ratings have fallen precipitously this year. The Finals is seeing its lowest viewership on record, even though it features one of the league’s best-known franchises in the Los Angeles Lakers and Lebron James, one of its most recognizable stars. While ratings for many sports are down this fall as there is unprecedented competition for viewership, basketball is faring the worst. The casual fan is not watching, potentially because of the political activism that has seeped into broadcasts and athlete statements the past several months.