Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com writes that Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest plans to auction his 2010 NBA championship ring to help raise money for mental-health awareness.
Artest finally won a title in June after 11 regular seasons of trying ... and now he's planning to sell the championship ring as a fundraiser to put more psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists in schools.
"I'm never going to put it on," he said.
Artest plans to soon announce details of what he hopes will become a worldwide auction, and he takes possession of the jewelry in an Oct. 26 pre-game ceremony before the Lakers open against the Rockets. It's an incredible gesture. But it's even more meaningful as a statement.
"You work so hard to get a ring, and now you have a chance to help more people than just yourself, instead of just satisfying yourself," he said. "What's better than that? For me, this is very important."
That's a pretty fantastic effort by Artest, who was a critical piece during the Lakers' most recent championship run.