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Revitalized Artest ready to face fans, former friends in Indiana
Revitalized Artest ready to face fans, former friends in IndianaBy GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
March 16, 2006
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Ron Artest is the most popular man in any room he enters these days. Restaurants, car dealerships, Arco Arena -- they're all filled with well-wishers and autograph-seekers who can't quite believe what he's done to the Sacramento Kings.
It's been just seven weeks since the Indiana Pacers sent Artest to Sacramento in a trade for Peja Stojakovic, ending four tumultuous years with a franchise that stood by him through every twist in one of the NBA's most notorious careers, highlighted by the longest suspension in league history for a little brawl in the Detroit suburbs.
By the forward's own estimation, he has been the Ideal Artest in Sacramento: A peerless defensive stopper, a consistent scorer, a tireless practice player and a remarkable leader for a team that seemed directionless before his arrival. The Kings, remade in Artest's image, are above .500, back in the playoff picture and surging toward a high seed.
So when Artest returns to Indiana on Friday night for the Kings' road game against the Pacers, he won't deny the trip's importance -- but he also won't allow a wave of emotion to overwhelm the good thing he's got going back in California.
"It feels like high school again," Artest said between practice and a private shooting session at the Kings' training complex. "I had a really good team, and I was a much better leader. When I got in college and the NBA, I became selfish. Now, I'm back to my high school days.
"I'm doing the same things here that I did (in Indiana), with a few exceptions. Over here, it's just a little bit better for me. It's a good situation, because it easily could have went against me. I could have been in a place where I wasn't happy."
Sure, the charismatic New Yorker's entire career has been played on similar arcs -- initial excitement, followed by distractions, followed by catastrophe -- but the honeymoon still is on in Sacramento.
The Kings are unbeaten in 10 home games since Artest's arrival, beating opponents by an average of 16 points per game. The Kings have won 14 of their last 18 overall, with their opponents' scoring average and shooting percentages all dropping sharply.
Artest's development into a star was hampered by his 73-game suspension last season and his trade request last fall, but he's back on track. He was remarkable in three recent home wins, guarding Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant with equal adeptness while hitting big baskets on the other end -- something to evoke the best of times for the Pacers.
"Ron's playing great, which I knew he would," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "We knew the kind of player he was and how he could help a franchise's fortunes."
After playing a supporting role in Indiana to Jermaine O'Neal and Reggie Miller, Artest has evolved into the clear floor leader for the Kings, who welcomed his hard-charging leadership. Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim all are veteran players who seem more comfortable in supporting roles, and Artest has been burning for a chance to be the man.
"It's the first time in a long time that I've been complimented on my leadership skills," Artest said. "Partly it was my fault that I hadn't been complimented in the past. Maybe some people just weren't recognizing."
Artest still speaks fondly of his days in Indiana, recalling how the fans supported him even through suspensions, ejections and his odd request for time off to work on his music label.
"I made myself into a franchise player there, but I kind of sneaked up on them," Artest said.
Most of his former teammates were stung by his demand to leave Indiana, resulting in his deactivation in December. His return in purple provoked guarded feelings among the Pacers who still consider him a friend -- but who will never look at Artest the same way.
"Everybody seems to think that I pushed him out the door," O'Neal said Thursday. "I didn't push him out the door. We mutually agreed that that was the best situation for both parties.... When we talked, it came down to him understanding what he needs to do to achieve his goal to be the type of player he can be and get the recognition he deserves."
Artest knows he ruined a good thing in Indiana, voicing his regrets before and after the trade to teammates, including O'Neal and Miller, who was traded from Chicago to Indiana in the same deal in 2002. Nobody is certain how he'll be received: Artest expects boos, Carlisle anticipates cheers and Miller sagely forecasts a complicated mix.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him," Carlisle said. "He's one of my favorite players I've ever worked with. I'm not looking forward to seeing him in an opponent's uniform." AP Sports Writer Steve Herman in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-kings-pacers-artestreturns&prov=ap&type=lgns
Revitalized Artest ready to face fans, former friends in IndianaBy GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
March 16, 2006
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Ron Artest is the most popular man in any room he enters these days. Restaurants, car dealerships, Arco Arena -- they're all filled with well-wishers and autograph-seekers who can't quite believe what he's done to the Sacramento Kings.
It's been just seven weeks since the Indiana Pacers sent Artest to Sacramento in a trade for Peja Stojakovic, ending four tumultuous years with a franchise that stood by him through every twist in one of the NBA's most notorious careers, highlighted by the longest suspension in league history for a little brawl in the Detroit suburbs.
By the forward's own estimation, he has been the Ideal Artest in Sacramento: A peerless defensive stopper, a consistent scorer, a tireless practice player and a remarkable leader for a team that seemed directionless before his arrival. The Kings, remade in Artest's image, are above .500, back in the playoff picture and surging toward a high seed.
So when Artest returns to Indiana on Friday night for the Kings' road game against the Pacers, he won't deny the trip's importance -- but he also won't allow a wave of emotion to overwhelm the good thing he's got going back in California.
"It feels like high school again," Artest said between practice and a private shooting session at the Kings' training complex. "I had a really good team, and I was a much better leader. When I got in college and the NBA, I became selfish. Now, I'm back to my high school days.
"I'm doing the same things here that I did (in Indiana), with a few exceptions. Over here, it's just a little bit better for me. It's a good situation, because it easily could have went against me. I could have been in a place where I wasn't happy."
Sure, the charismatic New Yorker's entire career has been played on similar arcs -- initial excitement, followed by distractions, followed by catastrophe -- but the honeymoon still is on in Sacramento.
The Kings are unbeaten in 10 home games since Artest's arrival, beating opponents by an average of 16 points per game. The Kings have won 14 of their last 18 overall, with their opponents' scoring average and shooting percentages all dropping sharply.
Artest's development into a star was hampered by his 73-game suspension last season and his trade request last fall, but he's back on track. He was remarkable in three recent home wins, guarding Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant with equal adeptness while hitting big baskets on the other end -- something to evoke the best of times for the Pacers.
"Ron's playing great, which I knew he would," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "We knew the kind of player he was and how he could help a franchise's fortunes."
After playing a supporting role in Indiana to Jermaine O'Neal and Reggie Miller, Artest has evolved into the clear floor leader for the Kings, who welcomed his hard-charging leadership. Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, Bonzi Wells and Shareef Abdur-Rahim all are veteran players who seem more comfortable in supporting roles, and Artest has been burning for a chance to be the man.
"It's the first time in a long time that I've been complimented on my leadership skills," Artest said. "Partly it was my fault that I hadn't been complimented in the past. Maybe some people just weren't recognizing."
Artest still speaks fondly of his days in Indiana, recalling how the fans supported him even through suspensions, ejections and his odd request for time off to work on his music label.
"I made myself into a franchise player there, but I kind of sneaked up on them," Artest said.
Most of his former teammates were stung by his demand to leave Indiana, resulting in his deactivation in December. His return in purple provoked guarded feelings among the Pacers who still consider him a friend -- but who will never look at Artest the same way.
"Everybody seems to think that I pushed him out the door," O'Neal said Thursday. "I didn't push him out the door. We mutually agreed that that was the best situation for both parties.... When we talked, it came down to him understanding what he needs to do to achieve his goal to be the type of player he can be and get the recognition he deserves."
Artest knows he ruined a good thing in Indiana, voicing his regrets before and after the trade to teammates, including O'Neal and Miller, who was traded from Chicago to Indiana in the same deal in 2002. Nobody is certain how he'll be received: Artest expects boos, Carlisle anticipates cheers and Miller sagely forecasts a complicated mix.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him," Carlisle said. "He's one of my favorite players I've ever worked with. I'm not looking forward to seeing him in an opponent's uniform." AP Sports Writer Steve Herman in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-kings-pacers-artestreturns&prov=ap&type=lgns
