Sacramento, Calif. – Now in a Sacramento Kings uniform, the talented yet troubled Ron Artest promises to be the same player but a different person.
The former Indiana Pacer was dealt to Sacramento last Thursday for two-time NBA all-star Peja Stojakovic. Artest was suspended 73 games last season for his role in a fight with fans during a game at Detroit on Nov. 19, 2004. The 2004 NBA all-star also made headlines for asking for time away from the game to work on his music label last season, asked the Pacers to trade him this season and is viewed as quite eccentric.
Artest makes his Kings’ home debut tonight against the Nuggets and he now says he is ready to just play ball.
“I’m trying to change my image,” Artest said at a news conference at the Kings’ practice facility Monday. “It’s going to be a different Artest in Sacramento. One that is more about basketball. I’ve been doing music quite often, but I’m going to let that take a back seat. Play basketball first. Do things in a way that is not controversial. Do things in a way that’s not disruptive to my team.”
Artest said he received telephone calls from some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including the Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony, during the 25-game span in which the Pacers put him on the inactive list after he asked for a trade.
“It was so amazing, wow, because all the best players on every team were calling me,” Artest said. “I got a call from (Minnesota’s Kevin) Garnett. I was like, ‘Garnett wants to play with me. Wow.’ Then I’m going to Minnesota. I got a call from (the Lakers’) Kobe (Bryant). ‘Oh, my goodness, Kobe wants me to play with him.’ And then I’m going to the Lakers.
“Then I get a call from (the Clippers’) Elton (Brand). Then, I’m going to the Clippers. Then Melo. I didn’t think I was that good.”
Artest has been better than good for the Kings thus far, averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals, but they lost both games. Although the injury-plagued Kings (18-26) are in last place in the Pacific Division, the 2004 NBA defensive player of the year has predicted they will make the playoffs.
“Reach for the stars,” he said. “That’s what we’re reaching for. Once we get in the playoffs, it’s anybody’s ballgame.”
After hearing in December the Kings were interested in him, he tried to give a subliminal hint of his interest by wearing a purple suit to a game. But he said he didn’t feel comfortable with the trade until he talked with Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof and president Geoff Petrie.
“The Maloofs said: ‘It’s a gamble. We want you here, but it’s a gamble.’ That’s as honest as you’re going can be,” Artest said. “I was like, ‘Cool, I want to be here and I want to win.’ I know the things I’ve been through throughout my career.
“I want to go somewhere where I can prove somebody wrong. They wanted to take a gamble on me and that’s cool. A lot of other people were iffy, iffy, iffy. They were just nervous or scared.”
Rumored Denver packages for Artest included forward Kenyon Martin as well as forward-center Nene and guard Earl Watson. Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said there was never a package that “would work.”
“I don’t think Denver had the essentials that the Pacers wanted to take,” said Artest’s agent, Mark Stevens. “So they quickly fell on the totem pole.”
Said Anthony: “I wished we got him. I would have loved to play with him.”
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
