Utah father, son gifted free tickets to NBA All-Star Game after chance encounter

DRAPER, Utah — A father and son from Draper, Utah, acquired the shock of a lifetime this weekend.

Ryan Younger took his son, Stockton, downtown for the NBA All-Star actions. The pair had tickets to the G-League sport on the Huntsman Heart and deliberate on heading to downtown Salt Lake Metropolis afterwards to be a part of the motion. They didn’t have tickets to the large present Sunday evening.

The Youngs are enormous basketball followers. Stockton is called after John Stockton, and one in all their daughters is called Sloane, after former coach, the late Jerry Sloane. Stockton is a sophomore on the basketball group at Nook Canyon Excessive Faculty, which, he informed KSL TV, is having their finest season because the college opened.

So, when the 2 made their strategy to Salt Lake Metropolis Sunday, they’d a “spring of their step,” able to take pleasure in a day of star gazing on the sport’s nice. They have been having a good time. On the G-League sport, they noticed Shaquille O’Neill. It was a thrill for Ryan and Stockton.

“One of many biggest gamers of all time and he’s 20 toes away from me,” Stockton mentioned.

After leaving that sport, they caught a bus to go to the Salt Palace and the motels the place the gamers have been staying. That is when the day took a flip they by no means anticipated. There was a younger household on the bus cease in search of some instructions.

“Dad, spouse and a younger son,” Ryan mentioned. “They mentioned, ‘Hey, are you able to assist me get to the Hyatt? We’re not from round right here.’”

They Youngs have been glad to assist one other basketball-loving household. The teams began exchanging “small discuss,” primarily about basketball. The lady requested Ryan and Stockton if they’d tickets to the sport. They informed her they didn’t. They’d like to go, nevertheless it’s a little bit too costly. Nonetheless, they have been enthusiastic about being a part of the joy and the festivities.

“They type of whispered to one another, then began texting,” Younger mentioned of the opposite couple. “She mentioned, ‘Would you need to go to the sport?’ And we’re like, ‘Certain, however we don’t have tickets.’”

Ryan mentioned the girl then dropped a bomb.

“She goes, ‘What if I may get you tickets?’ And she or he’s like, ‘Let me name my son’s agent.’”

Seems, Ryan and Stockton have been speaking to the household of Mac McClung, the 2022 NBA G-League Rookie of the Yr, who gained the dunk contest the evening earlier than.

The Youngs couldn’t consider it.

“We each type of exploded,” Ryan mentioned. “We’re like, ‘Ya, we all know Mac McClung. Everybody is aware of who Mac McClung is, and so they’re so humble.”

After the bus journey, the teams exchanged cellphone numbers and went their separate methods. The Youngs thought that is likely to be the tip of their brush with fame, and even when that’s the place all of it ended, the Youngs have been grateful. And their afternoon was filled with star basketball sightings. However round 4, Ryan acquired a textual content.

“My dad will get a textual content from his (Mac’s) mother that claims, ‘Examine your e mail.’ And we each like, lose our minds,” Stockton mentioned. “No means that is occurring proper now.”

“I pull it up,” Ryan mentioned. “Two tickets to the All-Star Sport in my e mail. In fact, we’re like blown away.”

The Youngs mentioned the sport was one of many biggest experiences of their lives, all due to a humble mother of a basketball star.

“It was simply the best expertise in all probability of my life I might say,” Stockton mentioned.