This is one of the best interviews I've ever heard from him. Great stuff...
I agree. He's very relaxed, very funny, very humble (for Ron), and good questions from Dave.
Plus, he did the entire 3 hours! I didn't catch every second but some of the most memorable things I recall Ron saying about being with the Kings and NBA in general:
The so-called Coach Theus and Kevin Martin dust up was "much about nothing." Ron said he and Kev touched base over it immediately and agreed it was overblown. Then that very night they went out to dinner together and it didn't even come up in their conversation. BTW, Ron always referred to Reggie Theus as Coach Theus and said he has a very good relationship with him and that since the season ended they've been in touch a lot.
He said had a good relationship with Adelman (didn't mention Muss) who basically turned over the keys to the team to Ron Artest when he arrived and let him lead the Kings into the playoffs.
Agreed, that maybe he was too demanding, too wanting to win, after that first year with the team and it took awhile to see that he had some real fellow warriors he could count on and trust - Kevin, John, Beno, Cisco, - even Mikki! He said Brad is the one King he would trust the most to have his back in a dark alley fight - because they've been in so many wars together in Chicago and Indiana before reuniting in Sac.
John Salmons is the most loved teammate by everyone on the Kings because even though he looks rough, scruffy, etc. - he is very clean living, religious, family man, absolutely no drugs, alcohol.
Sort of came up in a question about Josh Howard who Artest said made a mistake by saying that 95% of NBA players smoke dope in off-season. Artest doesn't smoke the weed he said. He laughed off the Rick Carlisle praise he got recently as implying a possible trade. Said he and Coach Carlisle always got along just fine and remain very good friends.
Talked a bit about the current playoffs. Doesn't want the Hornets to go further. Likes the Lakers chances because Lamar Odom is one of his best friends in life from childhood living in same hood.
That's about all I can think of for now...