If the “Pawn Stars” posse has its way, customers could soon buy electronics from LeBron James or sell watches to Carmelo Anthony.
The team at Gold & Silver Pawn, the downtown pawn shop behind the History Channel’s hit reality TV show, has come up with its latest stunt. They’re offering jobs to NBA players idled by the league’s lockout.
“Chum and I love basketball and wagering on the games,” said Corey Harrison, of the family that owns and operates the store. “We really miss the guys and the action and thought it might be fun to have them spend a day or more with us while they aren’t playing ball.”
The NBA and its players have been at odds since summer over revenue sharing and salary caps. A lockout led to cancellation of this year’s preseason games and the first six weeks of the regular season. Players have been out of work since July.
Some have signed contracts to play in foreign countries. Others have taken to doing community service. Several dozen came to Las Vegas to polish their skills.
Richard Harrison, Gold & Silver Pawn’s patriarch, hopes their next job will be with him. “It seems they need a little help in their negotiation skills,” Harrison said. “Maybe I could give them a tip or two.”
The pawn shop crew has become adept at promoting their brand. Their TV show soars in ratings, and they recently launched a prepaid debit card with their faces emblazoned across it. More than 4,000 people a day visit Gold & Silver Pawn, 713 S. Las Vegas Blvd., and cameras follow the action five days a week.