Lakers' Deandre Ayton just won the most important NBA Award you've never heard about

RC Nazemi

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Lakers' Deandre Ayton just won the most important NBA Award you've never heard about image

Credit: Kirby Lee - Imagn Images

The Lakers have been in search of a solid center for years. Even when they had one of the league's most talented bigs in Anthony Davis, Los Angeles was always in the hunt for someone to pair next to him. 

This past summer, the Lakers may have found their big man. 

In the offseason, LA went out and signed former number one overall pick DeAndre Ayton to a two-year 'prove-it' deal with a player option after the first. 

You might ask: Why is a former number-one overall pick on a 'prove-it' deal? Be it his lack of effort at times throughout his career or the notion that he's a difficult player to play with and inhabit a locker room with, this is where he found himself. 

Well, so far in Los Angeles, he's disproven all those ideas and looked like the center they've needed for some time. 

More: Deandre Ayton claims historic Lakers' double-double was 'mediocre'

Today, it was announced that Ayton was announced as the winner of one of the more important awards the NBA has to offer in the grand scheme of things. 

Deandre Ayton the recipient of the NBA Cares Bob Lanier  Community Assist Award

No, it wasn't Western Conference player of the week or month, but in the game of life, this award has far more importance. 

Deandre Ayton won the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for his charitable efforts in the month of November. 

Per the NBA, Ayton received the award due to his leadership in spearheading hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica and opening the Cedar Spring Community Center there as well. Ayton also launched the Ayton Alley Oop Program in LA, donating tickets to Lakers games and other LA-based sporting events. 

Between Luka Dončić instantly donating last year to the fire relief efforts in LA as soon as he was traded and Ayton doing all of this, it's nice to know that these Lakers are as good off the court as they are on it. 

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Senior Editor