Two LA Laker fans got the gift of a lifetime when they were given two court side seats to Game 1 of the NBA Finals…. courtesy of Ron Artest.
According to TMZ, the tickets are valued at $9,000 a piece and were given away on Los Angeles’ Power 106 radio station.
“Most of my fans can’t afford the ticket prices to come to any of the games, let alone the Finals,” Artest told TMZ. “I wanted to treat a fan to something they would normally never have access to, so they could feel like one of the stars for the night. I wanted to be able to share my first Finals experience with one of my regular fans.”
Artest paid for the tickets out of his own pocket, which is pretty generous until you remember he makes $6.6 m a season!
Ronald William “Ron” Artest, Jr. (born November 13, 1979) is an American professional basketball player who is currently with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Artest gained a reputation as one of the league’s premier defenders as he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004. He was a major participant in the Pacers–Pistons brawl and is known for his sometimes eccentric, outspoken behavior. He is also a rapper, known for his single “Champions”.