Championship rings are a prized part of any trophy case. But just because personalized jewelry commemorating a title run is among the most valued prizes a player, coach, executive, or anyone else within an organization receives, doesn't mean they don't sometimes find their way onto the sports memorabilia market – fetching a hefty price, of course.
Counterfeiters no doubt had that reality in mind when they tried to get nearly 30 fake championship rings through customs at LAX on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
Article Continues Below“Twenty-eight counterfeit NBA championship rings have been seized by federal authorities at Los Angeles International Airport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says Wednesday that the rings were in a wooden box shipped from China with a final destination in Arizona. Investigators suspect the intent was to sell the phony rings as a collection.”
Among the counterfeit rings seized in Los Angeles were those featuring trademarks of several teams, including the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers. Officials estimate the total cost of the rings – if they were real, that is – at approximately $550,000.
No arrests have been announced.
The reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors will receive their rings on October 22, before the season-opener against the New Orleans Pelicans.