From the moment Ron Artest sat down today, after holding up his Lakers jersey No. 37 and after mugging for the cameras during his introductory news conference, he was funny, engaging, honest and open.
Artest admitted that he had always wanted to be a Laker and now he had been given that opportunity after signing a five-year guaranteed contract for $33.95 million -- he has a player option for the fifth season. Artest sat next to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, smiled and offered up his first joke.
Artest admitted that he had always wanted to be a Laker and now he had been given that opportunity after signing a five-year guaranteed contract for $33.95 million -- he has a player option for the fifth season. Artest sat next to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, smiled and offered up his first joke.
"Where is TMZ?" asked Artest, smiling, referring to the celebrity website. "They're not here. That's good news."
During a 10-year NBA career, Artest played for Chicago, Indiana, Sacramento and Houston. He was on the Rockets team that lost to the Lakers in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals this spring.
But Artest is best known for being suspended by the league for 73 games for his role in a brawl during a game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons in 2004.
During a 10-year NBA career, Artest played for Chicago, Indiana, Sacramento and Houston. He was on the Rockets team that lost to the Lakers in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals this spring.
But Artest is best known for being suspended by the league for 73 games for his role in a brawl during a game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons in 2004.
He said he has grown up since then.
"If you take that brawl away, I've changed, anyway," said Artest, knowing that the brawl he ignited will live forever. "I've always wanted to try to become a better person, if you take the brawl away. If you put the brawl back in that situation, that was something that was out of my control. I'm happy it's over."
During the NBA Finals this spring, Artest sat courtside at Staples Center watching the Lakers play Orlando.
"It sure was a long time coming," Artest said. "I always wanted to be a Laker -- not coming out of college; I wanted to be a Knick. As I started to compete against the Lakers and against Kobe [Bryant], just really out of respect for him I always wanted to be a teammate of his."
Artests is a 6-foot-7, 260-pound small forward who was the 2004 NBA defensive player of the year.
This month the Lakers chose to sign Artest as a free agent rather than Trevor Ariza, who later reached a deal to join the Rockets, Artest's old team.
On July 1, NBA teams were able to contact free agents. Because the Lakers are on the West Coast, they were able to make contact with free agents at 9:01 p.m. PDT, which was 12:01 a.m. July 2 on East Coast time.
"When the Lakers called at 12:01, I was surprised," Artest admitted.
Artest said he was informed by his agent that Kupchak had called. "I said, 'For what?' " Artest said. "He said, 'He wants to help you get a ring.' And I was just totally shocked and surprised."
Last Thursday, Artest agreed to play for the Lakers.
After he announced that he was going to play for the Lakers, Artest said he called Bryant.
"We've had this conversation before, about trying to team up, so it was nothing new," Artest said. "It's been ongoing. It was kind of a no-brainer for me to be a Laker. You throw [Lakers coach] Phil Jackson in the mix, who would pass on an opportunity to play under Phil?"
Artest averaged 17.1 points and 5.2 rebounds last season for the Rockets.
He said he doesn't mind taking a diminished role with the Lakers, as long as the team wins.
Artest said he speaks often with Lamar Odom and is hopeful that Odom, who is a free agent, will return to the Lakers. The Lakers are negotiating with Odom.
Artest and Odom have been teammates since they played in New York as kids.
Artest made $7.4 million last season and was hoping for a raise, but he accepted less from the Lakers with the hope that he can win a championship.
"As you can see, once again, I'm probably underpaid," Artest joked while putting his arm around Kupchak. "But it's OK. At the end of the day, if you can't live on $33 million, then you can't live."
"If you take that brawl away, I've changed, anyway," said Artest, knowing that the brawl he ignited will live forever. "I've always wanted to try to become a better person, if you take the brawl away. If you put the brawl back in that situation, that was something that was out of my control. I'm happy it's over."
During the NBA Finals this spring, Artest sat courtside at Staples Center watching the Lakers play Orlando.
"It sure was a long time coming," Artest said. "I always wanted to be a Laker -- not coming out of college; I wanted to be a Knick. As I started to compete against the Lakers and against Kobe [Bryant], just really out of respect for him I always wanted to be a teammate of his."
Artests is a 6-foot-7, 260-pound small forward who was the 2004 NBA defensive player of the year.
This month the Lakers chose to sign Artest as a free agent rather than Trevor Ariza, who later reached a deal to join the Rockets, Artest's old team.
On July 1, NBA teams were able to contact free agents. Because the Lakers are on the West Coast, they were able to make contact with free agents at 9:01 p.m. PDT, which was 12:01 a.m. July 2 on East Coast time.
"When the Lakers called at 12:01, I was surprised," Artest admitted.
Artest said he was informed by his agent that Kupchak had called. "I said, 'For what?' " Artest said. "He said, 'He wants to help you get a ring.' And I was just totally shocked and surprised."
Last Thursday, Artest agreed to play for the Lakers.
After he announced that he was going to play for the Lakers, Artest said he called Bryant.
"We've had this conversation before, about trying to team up, so it was nothing new," Artest said. "It's been ongoing. It was kind of a no-brainer for me to be a Laker. You throw [Lakers coach] Phil Jackson in the mix, who would pass on an opportunity to play under Phil?"
Artest averaged 17.1 points and 5.2 rebounds last season for the Rockets.
He said he doesn't mind taking a diminished role with the Lakers, as long as the team wins.
Artest said he speaks often with Lamar Odom and is hopeful that Odom, who is a free agent, will return to the Lakers. The Lakers are negotiating with Odom.
Artest and Odom have been teammates since they played in New York as kids.
Artest made $7.4 million last season and was hoping for a raise, but he accepted less from the Lakers with the hope that he can win a championship.
"As you can see, once again, I'm probably underpaid," Artest joked while putting his arm around Kupchak. "But it's OK. At the end of the day, if you can't live on $33 million, then you can't live."
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