My boyfriend and I have just recently started dating, but i've known him for 4 years. What's a good xmas gift?

He's in army BCT and gets out from the 17th of Dec to the 4th of Jan and he LOVES basketball and i know he misses playing it and watching it. So, I was thinking about getting him tickets to a hawks game (we live atl) that are anywhere from $85 - $100 per person. Is that an appropiate gift? On the other hand, he doesn't have a music player anymore and he likes the new ipod nano touch which is about $149 or $179. Which gift is better, the basketball game tickets or the ipod?