Ben Affleck takes in Clippers basketball at Staples Center in LA on the promotional trail for his new sports film The Way Back
Ben Affleck was among the stars in attendance Sunday for the Los Angeles Clippers’ 136-130 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Staples Center.
The actor, 47, donned a black leather jacket over a white shirt with black pants and white sneakers to the sporting event.
He took to the floor and plugged his upcoming basketball drama The Way Back, prior to its nationwide opening Friday, bringing with him four of his co-stars in the film – Brandon Wilson, Will Ropp, Melvin Gregg and Charles Lott Jr.
On the promotional trail: Ben Affleck, 47, on Sunday took to the floor and plugged his upcoming movie The Way Back at the Los Angeles Clippers game at the Staples Center
Affleck was a number of famous faces in the stands at the NBA game.
Other celebs seen taking in the daytime contest included stalwart Clippers fan Billy Crystal, actor Martin Lawrence, Oscar-winner Benicio del Toro, singer Summer Walker.
Also present were basketball icons Julius Erving and Jerry West, who is an exec for the Clippers.
In the movie, Affleck plays high school basketball coach Jack Cunningham, who’s fighting alcoholism, adding a art-imitates life aspect, as Affleck has been in treatment multiple times in an effort to remain sober.
Center of attention: The actor donned a black leather jacket over a white shirt with black pants and white sneakers to the sporting event
He’s got a cannon: The actor tossed T-shirts to the fan from the floor of the arena
Chatting: The actor spoke with a friend from his courtside seats at the game
The father-of-three – to daughters Violet, 14, and Seraphina, 11, and son Samuel, eight, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 47, and their kids – told the AP last week about how shooting the film triggered some painful feelings stemming from his personal battles.
‘Sometimes just feeling those feelings again purges them a little bit and frees you a little bit,’ Affleck said. ‘This movie was hard to make. Sometimes it was painful. And sometimes I was embarrassed.
‘And sometimes I couldn’t believe my life had any similarity to this.’
His team: Ben brought with him to the floor four of his co-stars in the film – Brandon Wilson, Will Ropp, Melvin Gregg and Charles Lott Jr.
Busy: The actor has been around the country promoting the upcoming basketball drama
In the limelight: Affleck was one in a number of celebrities who attended the day game
Affleck said he ‘brought a certain perverse expertise’ to the role becuase he understood ‘what it was like to feel in thrall to a compulsion that wasn’t good for’ him.
The actor, who’s also been seen in recent years in movies including Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, The Last Thing He Wanted and Justice League, said that he understands both the darkness of addiction – and the light that is recovery.
‘I knew how hopeless that can feel,’ he said. ‘And I knew how enormously frustrating it is. But I also knew something really important which is: People get better. You can get better.’
The Way Back opens in theaters March 6.
Fun day: Comedian Martin Lawrence looked to be having a great time following the action
The fan: Oscar-winner Benicio del Toro donned a black jacket and mesh cap
Updates: Summer Walker and producer London On Da Track checked out their phone
Legends: Basketball icons Julius Erving and Jerry West, who is an exec for the Clippers, were seen at the athletic contest
March madness: Affleck was again around hoops at the LA premiere of The Way Back Sunday