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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14184280p-15011424c.html
Kings notes: Atlanta didn't push for Artest
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, February 13, 2006
It could have been Ron Artest as a visitor on Sunday night, booed lustily by the paying consumers of Arco Arena.The Atlanta Hawks, in town to take on the Kings, were one of the teams in the Artest trade sweepstakes. The player Artest could have been swapped for, straight across, was Al Harrington, a 6-foot-9 forward, who is one of Artest's best friends in the NBA. The Hawks didn't push for it, however, with one train of thought that Artest was a real risk joining the youngest team in the NBA.
So he wound up in Sacramento, a veteran mixed in with a host of vets and revered by fans for his sheer will of wanting to compete. Artest will only say that "I'm happy in Sacramento and that it's worked out here."
Hawks coach Mike Woodson, the former Kings guard, didn't delve too deep into the topic, more concerned with the product he's trying to mold.
"Anytime you put a player on the (trading) block such as Artest, it opens a lot of eyes," Woodson said. "Al Harrington's name kept coming up. We like Harrington, and that's one reason we weren't willing to pull the trigger."
Not that Woodson doesn't appreciate Artest's game, or how he can impact the Kings.
"What he brings is toughness," Woodson said. "I like (Sacramento's) personnel. I think they have a really talented team. When they get Bonzi (Wells back from injury), that's scary. They've got a ton of talent."
Woodson was a key member of the Kings' first team in Sacramento, in 1985-86. He said Kings fans then and now appreciate effort and they'll see plenty of it in Artest.
"Best fans in the league," Woodson said. "I always said that. We'd lose by 20 or 40 points (in 1885-86) and there were still standing ovations. "
Dining among old friends
Long before they became decision-makers as club executives, Billy Knight and Wayne Cooper would crash into each other in NBA games. Along the way, they became friendly, and these days, they are the closest of friends.When Atlanta center Jason Collier died suddenly earlier this season, one of the first people to contact Knight, the Hawks' general manager, was Cooper, a member of the Kings' front office. Naturally, they ran into each other Sunday, the banter wide-ranging, including who would pony up $300 for a good meal.
Draft prospecting
In June, the Kings considered drafting Salim Stoudamire, the Arizona guard who wound up going to the Hawks in the second round. He's had a solid rookie season, averaging 9.6 points in 20 minutes of play entering Sunday.The Kings selected Francisco García, who is averaging 6.2 points in 21.4 minutes.
Dancing with the dancers
As if Jim Kozimor wasn't busy enough. Filling in as the Kings' play-by-play voice on KHTK 1140 for Gary Gerould (on assignment for NHRA with ESPN2), Kozimor yanked off his headset and hustled onto the Arco floor during a first-half timeout to play the role of male dancer with the Kings' Royal Court Dancers. The other males who were surprisingly in sync were either the fathers of dancers or significant others. Jason Ross picked up the radio call after the timeout as Kozimor huffed and puffed his way back to press row.
Numbers
7
Kings who reached double-digit scoring.9.6
Steals per game for the Kings with Ron Artest in the lineup.
8
The Kings' current winning streak at Arco Arena.
Kings notes: Atlanta didn't push for Artest
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, February 13, 2006
It could have been Ron Artest as a visitor on Sunday night, booed lustily by the paying consumers of Arco Arena.The Atlanta Hawks, in town to take on the Kings, were one of the teams in the Artest trade sweepstakes. The player Artest could have been swapped for, straight across, was Al Harrington, a 6-foot-9 forward, who is one of Artest's best friends in the NBA. The Hawks didn't push for it, however, with one train of thought that Artest was a real risk joining the youngest team in the NBA.
So he wound up in Sacramento, a veteran mixed in with a host of vets and revered by fans for his sheer will of wanting to compete. Artest will only say that "I'm happy in Sacramento and that it's worked out here."
Hawks coach Mike Woodson, the former Kings guard, didn't delve too deep into the topic, more concerned with the product he's trying to mold.
"Anytime you put a player on the (trading) block such as Artest, it opens a lot of eyes," Woodson said. "Al Harrington's name kept coming up. We like Harrington, and that's one reason we weren't willing to pull the trigger."
Not that Woodson doesn't appreciate Artest's game, or how he can impact the Kings.
"What he brings is toughness," Woodson said. "I like (Sacramento's) personnel. I think they have a really talented team. When they get Bonzi (Wells back from injury), that's scary. They've got a ton of talent."
Woodson was a key member of the Kings' first team in Sacramento, in 1985-86. He said Kings fans then and now appreciate effort and they'll see plenty of it in Artest.
"Best fans in the league," Woodson said. "I always said that. We'd lose by 20 or 40 points (in 1885-86) and there were still standing ovations. "
Dining among old friends
Long before they became decision-makers as club executives, Billy Knight and Wayne Cooper would crash into each other in NBA games. Along the way, they became friendly, and these days, they are the closest of friends.When Atlanta center Jason Collier died suddenly earlier this season, one of the first people to contact Knight, the Hawks' general manager, was Cooper, a member of the Kings' front office. Naturally, they ran into each other Sunday, the banter wide-ranging, including who would pony up $300 for a good meal.
Draft prospecting
In June, the Kings considered drafting Salim Stoudamire, the Arizona guard who wound up going to the Hawks in the second round. He's had a solid rookie season, averaging 9.6 points in 20 minutes of play entering Sunday.The Kings selected Francisco García, who is averaging 6.2 points in 21.4 minutes.
Dancing with the dancers
As if Jim Kozimor wasn't busy enough. Filling in as the Kings' play-by-play voice on KHTK 1140 for Gary Gerould (on assignment for NHRA with ESPN2), Kozimor yanked off his headset and hustled onto the Arco floor during a first-half timeout to play the role of male dancer with the Kings' Royal Court Dancers. The other males who were surprisingly in sync were either the fathers of dancers or significant others. Jason Ross picked up the radio call after the timeout as Kozimor huffed and puffed his way back to press row.
Numbers
7
Kings who reached double-digit scoring.9.6
Steals per game for the Kings with Ron Artest in the lineup.
8
The Kings' current winning streak at Arco Arena.
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