The award, voted on by the Professional Basketball Writers Association, is presented to an NBA player or coach for outstanding service and dedication to the community. The NBA said Billups was chosen for his charity work in Detroit and his hometown of Denver.

Billups has been involved with the Children's Center Annual Celebrity Golf Classic and has help raise more than $100,000 at each of the past three events. He has also supported Why Can't I Go, which takes 20-30 underprivileged children to a Pistons game, for seven years.

In Denver, Billups is associated with the Port-Billups Leadership Academy with Regis University. The academy is a camp that prepares children for college by promoting leadership, critical thinking, team work and conflict-resolution skills. Billups participates in the three-week camp each summer.