| Height: 6-7
Weight: 252
Born: November 13, 1979, Queensbridge, New York | |
| Newsbreakers |
November 19, 2008
Ron Artest did his best Yao Ming impression on Wednesday finishing with 14 points, 13 assists, two blocks, two steals, and an assist. However, it wasn't enough as the Rockets lost 96-86 to the Mavs.
Our View:Artest owners should be weary about his sprained ankle still, but it certainly didn't bother him on Wednesday.
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November 19, 2008
Ron Artest is questionable for Wednesday's game against Dallas due to his sprained ankle, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Our View:He will be a risky fantasy option, but Artest is optimistic he will be able to play tonight.
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November 18, 2008
Ron Artest did not practice on Tuesday, but will play in Wednesday's game according to the Houston Chronicle. Artest said that he has been cleared to play by both the team doctor and trainer.
Our View:Artest might be a risky lineup move for Wednesday with 10 games on the schedule. His ankle sprain will make him far from a sure thing, as it may make it more difficult for him to shoot and to go up for rebounds.
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November 18, 2008
It has been revealed that Ron Artest sprained his left ankle during battle with the Thunder, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Our View:He is considered questionable for Wednesday's game against the Mavericks. Artest recorded his first double-double of the season against the Thunder, with 17 points and 11 boards.
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November 17, 2008
The AP reports that Ron Artest scored 17 points and added 11 rebounds in a win over the Thunder on Monday, but was left clutching his right ankle after driving the lane in the final minute of the game.
Our View:The extent of his injury is not yet known. Artest is averaging just 14.2 points per game after averaging well over 20 last season.
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November 13, 2008
Ron Artest shot just 1-of-12 from the field on Wednesday as the Rockets defeated the Suns. He managed to contribute seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Our View:Artest has been held to less than 10 points in three of his past four games. We can assume that he is just still trying to get acquainted with his new team, but his inconsistent production has to be a concern.
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November 12, 2008
The Rockets were beaten by 29 points by the Lakers, but Ron Artest is encouraged by the club's potential, according to the Houston Chronicle. Artest said, "I felt good about the game because I just felt everybody in that game made a mistake. So when you have a lot of mistakes made, it’s correctable when you have a team such as the Houston Rockets. It wasn’t a thing where we didn’t have a chance. We had a chance to beat Portland, we had a chance to beat Boston, and against the Lakers, we were up big early when we were playing together. We made mistakes and the game got out of hand. I would rather make those mistakes now than later."
Our View:Artest only scored eight points over 32 minutes in the loss to the Lakers, but chipped in four steals and a block. He should remain a solid starting option at forward in fantasy leagues, and has his head in the right place so far.
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October 30, 2008
Ron Artest is making a good impression on his new team. On Thursday night Artest scored 29 points in the Rockets 112-102 win over the Mavericks.
Our View:In two games so far this year Artest is averaging 22.5 points a game. The Rockets have set themselves up nicely with acquisition of Artest.
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October 29, 2008
Ron Artest scored 16 points and had three steals as Houston defeated Memphis 82-71 in his first regular season game with his new team.
Our View:He had just three rebounds and two assists but those numbers figure to be below his averages.
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October 23, 2008
Ron Artest led all Houston scorers on Thursday as Houston defeated his former team, the Kings, 110-97. He had 19 points, four assists, three rebounds, two assists and two three-pointers.
Our View:Artest should be ready to duplicate his quality per game stats from a season ago despite being surrounded by a much more talented group of teammates.
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October 9, 2008
Ron Artest was the best player on the floor as the Rockets defeated the Spurs 85-78 on Thursday. He finished with 18 points, five rebounds and three three-pointers in 23 minutes.
Our View:Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady did not play. Artest seems to have a new enthusiasm in Houston now that he's reunited with his former coach Rick Adelman. Expect a very good season from the forward.
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October 7, 2008
Ron Artest made his debut with the Rockets in Tuesday night's 96-93 win over the Grizzlies. The forward finished with 15 points in 24 minutes. He had three three-pointers, two steals and an assist.
Our View:Artest should be an all-around producer for the Rockets this season. He is among the second tier of small forwards.
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August 26, 2008
Ron Artest received a warm welcome by the fans in Houston at Monday's rally, according to the Houston Chronicle. Artest said, "It just showed what type of city Houston is. It just showed me I’m definitely going to be in an arena that’s full of energy, full of excitement. Having a chance to have those fans on my side, instead of against me, is going to help me play better. It’s only August. When we start winning a whole bunch of games, I can imagine how it’s going to be."
Our View:Expectations are high in Houston for a deep playoff run, and Artest will have a chance to generate strong numbers while playing with All-Stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.
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August 14, 2008
Ron Artest is now officially a member of the Houston Rockets, according to the AP. "This is definitely the high point of my career," Artest said.
Our View:If Artest can keep himself together, he's obviously one of the top players available in fantasy basketball drafts, and the Rockets are a legitimate threat in the NBA's Western Conference.
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July 31, 2008
The Ron Artest deal could be undone by the NBA's resident bad boy. In response to Yao Ming's concerns about Artest's past, Ron-Ron retaliated according to the Sacramento Bee. "I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto," said Artest, who will earn $7.4 million next season and be a free agent next summer. "That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about. If you go back to the brawl, that's a culture issue right there. Somebody was disrespecting me, so he's got to understand where I'm coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed." The deal cannot be completed until August 14 because of the nature of Donte Greene's contract (another player in the deal).
Our View:Welcome back, Ron Artest. From representing, to speaking in the third person, to defending his mind-boggling actions in the Detroit brawl, Artest is clearly reinvigorated now that he appears to be leaving Sac-town. Could the lunacy also be attributed to the fact that he canned his agent/muzzle earlier this summer? If Yao feels the need to respond, this could get ugly enough for the Rockets to pull out of the deal. We're certain Artest will not let Yao get the final word in.
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July 30, 2008
With Houston acquiring Ron Artest via trade late last night, the stories of deals undone are coming forth, including one that would have sent Artest to the Phoenix Suns, according to East Valley Tribune.
Our View:The Trib reports the Suns had been targeting both Artest and another Houston free-agent signee, Brent Barry, but the in-season deal to acquire Kurt Thomas sent draft picks needed to do work on those swaps to Seattle while the decision to sign Matt Barnes has the team thinking they can find another hidden gem in need of a deal. We'll keep you posted when they make that move.
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July 29, 2008
The Houston Rockets will acquire Ron Artest from the Sacramento Kings, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. The Rockets will give up guard Bobby Jackson, along with their number one draft choice next season and another player that has yet to be named. The trade is not allowed to be officially announced until August 14 due to contract considerations.
Our View:The Rockets just made themselves serious contenders in the West, as Artest will be part of a talented trio that includes Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. It goes without saying that Artest is a valuable fantasy contributor, and this move does nothing to change that.
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July 18, 2008
The Dallas Mavericks have rejected a deal that would have sent Josh Howard to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Ron Artest, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Our View:Howard has his own baggage, especially after his recent admission of marijuana use, but Artest has heavier baggage, and the Mavericks may not want to deal with that.
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July 17, 2008
The Mavericks have offered Jerry Stackhouse and Brandon Bass in exchange for Kings forward Ron Artest, the Sacramento Bee reports. The Kings aren't expected to show interest unless Josh Howard is part of the package.
Our View:The rumors keep growing and swirling. It seems more and more likely that Artest will be wearing another uniform next season.
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July 17, 2008
Ron Artest is not interested in playing for the Nuggets, according to the Rocky Mountain News. He said, "I cannot play in Denver because they question my drive to finish my career off strong and not embarrass my family. Any player wants to win a championship is low risk. That's not even an option to be a Nugget. They let me know how they felt about me already."
Our View:The Nuggets could have dealt Kleiza and Eduardo Najera last February to the Kings for Artest, but Denver was reluctant to give up a top young prospect in Kleiza for a player who could opt out of his contract this summer and become a free agent.
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July 15, 2008
The Heat may be interested in acquiring Ron Artest, according to the Sacramento Bee. The Heat are believed to be willing to part ways with Shawn Marion, whose $17.1 million deal is expiring.
Our View:Artest previously said he would like to be traded and his first choice would be the Lakers.
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July 14, 2008
ESPN indicates that Ron Artest is now acting as his own agent and hinted that he would like to be traded. Artest said, "I hope I can go with a team who can commit to me on whatever the terms may be. Even in Indiana when they were worried about extending me, I still produced for them. I do believe there is a team out there that can be more committed than Sacramento to me. Now that I'm my own agent, I can get a better feel on how teams really view me because I can represent myself."
Our View:He would primarily like to be dealt to the Lakers, along with Kenny Thomas, in exchange for Lamar Odom. He scored 20.5 points per game in 2007-08, and would help the Lakers make another run at the finals if he ultimately lands with the club.
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July 10, 2008
The Sacramento Bee reports the Lakers have expressed recent interest in the availablity of Ron Artest. Kings president Geoff Petrie declined to confirm any offer even existed saying, "I don't really have any speculation one way or another (about his future). We'll see what other things — not specific to Ron — but if there's some other way we can improve the team or change the team, we'll take a look at it."
Our View:Artest could improve the Lakers lack of toughness, which was very evident in the finals loss to the Celtics. We'll keep you updated as the situation plays out.
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July 7, 2008
According to the Sacramento Bee, one week after deciding he had made a poor decision not to opt out of his contract, Ron Artest explained his frustration further in an e-mail he sent to ESPN on Monday morning.
"I made the comment about making a mistake on my opt out clause because I really did make a mistake. I had wrong info about extension options and it could have cost me a new deal. I was informed that the kings had me in their long term plans so that's why I decided to stay in contract. I just wanted to show loyalty. However when I spoke to the kings that was not an option and I grew frustrated with my decision immediately. I do apologize for being mistakenly frustrated with the kings. It was a mistake that I made and I will move on from. I dont know my future but I'm still a King Haters:)"
Our View:Artest admits he made a mistake -- but now he will begin his campaign to be traded or released. Count on it.
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July 1, 2008
Ron Artest is not opting out of his contract with the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPN.com reporter Marc Stein. "Not opting out. The Kings have been there for me, so the best I could do is stay in my contract," he said. Artest will make nearly $8 million this year.
Our View:This is good news for the Kings, at least on the court. Artest had another good season, which translates well for fantasy owners. He averaged 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals in 57 games last season.
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June 26, 2008
Doing his best Chad Johnson imitation, Ron Artest has yet again changed his mind and now seems likely to opt out of his contract with the Kings by Monday and become a free agent, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Our View:Artest is likely to have an extremely long list of suitors for his services as team's would love to add his tenacious nature to their club, baggage and injury risk be damned.
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June 22, 2008
Sacramento forward Ron Artest knows rumors are swirling of a potential trade to the Lakers, and he wants you to know he has no interest, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
Our View:Artest has told ESPN that there is almost no possibility that he will exercise his option to get out of the final year of current contract, a move he would have to make by June 30th. If that holds true, the Lakers would be forced to trade for Artest and Stein believes there is no way the Kings can make that move without asking for Lamar Odom (and his expiring contract) in return. However, while the Lakers might consider such a move, Artest went on to express his total disinterest in accepting the mid-level exception as pay, something the Lakers would be forced to do to get Artest's number to a level that works. It would seem that these rumors may become too difficult to figure out if Artest stands by his word. We'll keep you updated.
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June 18, 2008
Ron Artest reiterated on Tuesday night that he doesn't plan to opt out of his contract. He tells ESPN.com that he's "99 percent sure" of that decision. Artest has one year remaining at $8 million.
Our View:The Kings could still look to trade Artest this summer. The versatile forward remains a stud when healthy and could generate a lot of interest on the trade market.
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May 16, 2008
Ron Artest will not opt out of his contract with the Kings, according to the Sacramento Bee. "[My agent and I] have not talked about opting out at all."
Our View:Artest continues to be one of the better all-around players in the game, that is when he is healthy enough to play and isn't antagonizing the hell out of someone on his own team. He has until June 30th to opt out of his deal.
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April 24, 2008
Ron Artest underwent surgery on to repair the torn ligament in his left thumb on Thursday, according to the Sacramento Bee. Artest will wear a splint for six weeks and should have full strength back within ten.
Our View:Artest had the same ligament repaired in February of 2004 and was able to return to action very quickly. He should easily be back at full strength by opening day, now we just have to wait and see which team's jersey he will be wearing.
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April 12, 2008
Ron Artest is doubtful to play tonight, according to the Sacramento Bee. He continues to be slowed by his sprained left thumb.
Our View:John Salmons would be set to start at small forward if Artest ultimately cannot go.
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March 30, 2008
Ron Artest had a full stat-line in Sunday night's 120-107 win over Seattle, as he racked up 29 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, four steals, two blocks, and hit 2-of-3 shots from long range. He is averaging 28.5 points over his last two games.
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March 26, 2008
Ron Artest (elbow/knee) and Brad Miller (elbow) will both suit up against the Grizzlies on Wednesday night, the Sacramento Bee confirms. Both starters have been dealing with nagging ailments.
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March 24, 2008
Ron Artest, who was questionable with a stiff elbow for Monday's game against the Rockets, was ruled out after the Kings' afternoon shoot-around, this according to the Sacramento Bee. Artest is considered day-to-day.
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March 24, 2008
Ron Artest (stiff elbow) is questionable for Monday's game after sitting out on Saturday. The team didn't have a Sunday practice so there is nothing definitive on Artest's status for tonight's game against Houston.
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March 22, 2008
Ron Artest will be sitting tonight's game versus Memphis out due to right elbow stiffness, according to the Sacramento Bee. Artest has been playing through the pain but will not be available for fantasy rosters this evening.
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March 21, 2008
Ron Artest played through knee and elbow injuries on Friday night to score 23 points, grab seven boards and dish out two assists for the Kings. Artest has now tallied at least 20 points in four of his last five games, the other game he netted 19, as he continues to suck it up and perform no matter what his physical limitations.
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March 18, 2008
Ron Artest laced 'em up and balled Tuesday night, despite nursing a sore knee and elbow. He played a game-high 42 minutes and scored 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the floor. After a sluggish first few months to the season, Artest has played great since the All-Star break, averaging 22.6 ppg, 2.6 spg and shooting 48.7 percent.
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March 15, 2008
Ron Artest led the Kings with 26 points in their 127-99 loss to the Suns. He also recorded nine boards, two assists, and five steals. He only shot 10-of-22 from the field, but hit 4-of-5 from long range. That was the 10th time that he reached at least 25 points in a game this season.
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March 3, 2008
Ron Artest poured in 32 points against the Heat on Sunday, his highest output since November. He knocked down four three-pointers and added two assists, three rebounds, and one steal.
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February 26, 2008
Ron Artest missed Tuesday morning's shootaround due to a mild case of food poisoning, according to the AP. That may explain his somewhat lethargic stat line: 14 points on 3-of-14 shooting, two assists, no steals. Kings fans are now sick to their stomachs for a different reason: the Kings gave the Heat just their second win in their last 28 games.
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February 19, 2008
Ron Artest dropped 24 points on the Portland Trailblazers Tuesday night helping the Sacramento Kings to a 105-94 win.
Sacramento was playing its first game without veteran Mike Bibby. Artest added five rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes.
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February 17, 2008
The SacBee reports that sources close to Denver said talks between the Kings and Nuggets concerning Ron Artest , have recently rekindled. The Kings are holding out for third-year small forward Linas Kleiza and likely requiring forward Eduardo Najera and his expiring contract in exchange for the $7 Million dollar July free agent, Artest. The Kings veteran (Artest) recently backed off his trade demand.
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February 16, 2008
Ron Artest told ESPN.com on Saturday that he won't lobby to be traded before Thursday's deadline.
"I am anxious to see what my future holds, [but] I like Sac," Artest wrote in an e-mail. "My entire focus is with Sac and winning a championship this year."
Artest had been vocal about leaving the Kings for a playoff contender. Artest has the ability to terminate his contract at the end of the season and become a free agent in July.
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February 13, 2008
Ron Artest rebounded from an off-night on Tuesday with a 30-point performance in Wednesday's two-point loss to the Houston. Artest, who was held under 20-points for the first time in seven games on Tuesday against Memphis, added four rebounds and four assists Wednesday. This kind of performance will peak interest in his availability before the league trade deadline.
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February 12, 2008
Ron Artest was held under 20 points for the first time in seven games as the Kings fell to the Grizzlies 107-94. Artest, not expected to be a King after the approaching trade-deadline, entered Tuesday's game averaging 23 points over the team's last six contests.
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February 11, 2008
Ron Artest is being rumored to possibly be on the move to Denver according to a report in the Sacramento Bee. This rumor is just that, a rumor, and as such there is no substantive data to support it at the moment. However, it seems a fair bet that Artest may end up being moved prior to the trade deadline with his final destination obviously determining his value the rest of the way.
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February 10, 2008
Ron Artest scored 21 points and added 13 rebounds and two assists on Saturday night though he missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game in OT. Artest has now gone over 20-points in five straight games with a only one game during that streak covering less than 37 minutes played.
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January 17, 2008
Just nine games after having surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow, Ron Artest returned to the court for the Kings on Wednesday. Artest was originally expected to miss three to four weeks, but was back after only two weeks.
Our View:His stats were nothing to write home about sans his four steals, but Ron did play 29 minutes so it appears to be safe to return him to your lineup.
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January 2, 2008
Kings forward Ron Artest will miss up to a month after an MRI showed that he had five bone chips floating around near his right elbow. Artest elected to have surgery immediately following the MRI, and will spend the next three to four weeks healing.
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