The Mysterious Life of NBA Superfan James Goldstein

SANTA MONICA, CA - JANUARY 28:  Collector James Goldstein attends the Art Los Angeles Contemporary 2016 Opening Night at Barker Hangar on January 28, 2016 in Santa Monica, California.  (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Art Los Angeles Contemporary)
SANTA MONICA, CA - JANUARY 28: Collector James Goldstein attends the Art Los Angeles Contemporary 2016 Opening Night at Barker Hangar on January 28, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Art Los Angeles Contemporary)
(Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Art Los Angeles Contemporary)

He’s been to over 2,000 NBA games. He inspired Yves Saint-Laurent’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection. He owns the house from The Big Lebowski. James Goldstein is arguably the most interesting man you’ve never heard of. Michael Hafford, writing for Vice Sports, profiled Goldstein ahead of his annual NBA playoff pilgrimage, where he watches 16 games in-person in under two weeks. Here’s Hafford:

“If there’s time to kill before tip-off, Goldstein can be seen standing out on the court, dribbling a basketball with a big smile on his face. He’s the only person, other than the players, to be accorded this privilege, either by dint of his longevity, by his decades of NBA patronage, or by the fact that he knows everyone else on the court. Goldstein is friendly with almost all the players in the league, especially the European guys he sees on vacation over the summer. Players and coaches will come over and talk to him, bending down to catch a word as they strike casual poses for Goldstein’s Instagram.”

Find out the backstory behind the “millionaire playboy who dresses like an anime rock star” here.

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