Walker Wins Community Assist Award

["DJB" <dajubo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

NEW YORK (July 11, 2002) -- Boston Celtics forward Antoine Walker has been
selected to receive the NBA Community Assist Award for his community
outreach during the month of June. Since being selected in the first round
of the 1996 draft, Walker has made a significant impact in both Boston and
his hometown of Chicago. His commitment to the community was evidenced by
his community activities throughout the month of June.

Walker tipped off the month of June by presenting the first prize grant of
$5,000 to the winners of Real Deal 2002. The winner, the eighth grade class
at Irving Middle School, helped students and faculty feel better about their
school by improving their school grounds and creating a "Peace Garden." The
class also took steps toward a promising future by creating a large mural on
tapestry, depicting the pledge of eight affirmations of a good student. The
first runner up received $2,000 and the other schools received a $1,000
grant -- there were 10 schools total. The Real Deal Program, founded by
Walker in 1998, touches the lives of more than 1,000 at-risk Boston public
eighth graders each year by rewarding those who become involved in their
neighborhoods through innovative community service programs. The program
promotes creative classroom and community service projects that teach
valuable lessons of teamwork, goal setting and giving back to the community

Also in June, Walker celebrated overwhelmingly successful events for the 8
Foundation. On June 21st, Walker hosted the "Cruisin' with the Captain of
the C's" celebrity harbor cruise, raising $30,000 to benefit the 8
Foundation. The mission of the 8 Foundation, established in 1997, is to
provide positive life experiences and opportunities for inner-city youth and
to foster stable and loving environments for these young people by offering
support to single parents. The 8 Foundation also offers free week-long
basketball camps to inner-city children of both Boston and Chicago and
provides funding to financially-strapped AAU basketball programs.

"Being recognized for my efforts in the community is very uplifting," said
Walker. "I started The 8 Foundation with the hopes of making a real
difference, and I take this responsibility very seriously. I would like to
thank the NBA, the Celtics and the staff of The 8 Foundation for their
support."

As the June Community Assist Award winner, Walker will receive a $5,000
donation from the NBA to the charity of his choice.

Each month, all 29 NBA teams nominate a player for the Community Assist
Award, other nominees for June included Detroit Pistons' Rodney White, Miami
Heat's Mike James and Orlando Magic's Monty Williams.

The NBA, its teams and players are committed to programs that improve the
quality of life for all people and has created and implemented programs that
address important social issues, with a special emphasis on reading and
online literacy initiatives for children. The NBA and its 29 teams make a
difference in North America through the Read to Achieve Program, donations
to charities and the implementation of community outreach initiatives, and
through the production and airing of public service announcements.