You know you’re a pro athlete when  … YOU BUY A $16,000 PINKY RING … just like one former L.A. Lakers player, who’s now being sued for allegedly bailing hard when the bill came.

The guy at the center of the lawsuit is DJ Mbenga — an 8-year NBA vet who rode the bench with the Lake Show when they won 2 NBA championship rings in 2009 and 2010.

DJ is being sued by a Texas jewelry company called Lemmerman’s — which calls itself “The Player’s Choice.”

Reported by TMZ.com