New Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest has donated his $45,000 diamond watch to a Chinese teenager, apparently to sell so that he can fund his education, according to AFP.
Artest made the generous gift after playing basketball with 15-year-old Zheng Fengyu, who is from a poor family, in the central city of Wuhan on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.
“He is great. Never let me shoot easily,” Artest was quoted as saying. “Hope this can help realize his basketball dream.” After receiving the gift from the NBA star, Zheng, who is the captain of his school team, said: “August 14th is my birthday, this is just the perfect gift for me.”
Artest, who signed with NBA champions Los Angeles last month, also enjoyed a game with young players at a local university.
Around a dozen NBA players have visited China in the past few weeks, including Kobe Bryant who has been teaching his skills to youths and launching his fund to raise money for education and health programs in China. Wherever they go they have been mobbed by adoring fans, AFP noted.
