LOL! dude that got me chuckling so hard.
Artest: I'm excited about joining Rockets -- if Yao wants me
It did not take long for the Rockets to get their first taste of the enigmatic, complicated and often contradictory nature of Ron Artest.
Artest, who will be dealt to the Rockets on Aug. 14 in a trade completed Tuesday afternoon, told the Sacramento Bee he was excited about going to the Rockets but would join them only if they are committed to him. Much of Artest’s hesitance was an apparent reaction to Yao Ming’s wariness of the trade, expressed Wednesday on the Chronicle’s Web site.
“We’ve still got to make sure there’s still a commitment,” Artest told the Bee. “That’s the main thing. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets organization, we’re going to find out how much they really want me there.”
Artest is in the last season of a contract worth $7.4 million, but Rockets officials cannot speak to him until the trade is complete.
There do not, however, seem to be any roadblocks to completing the deal once Donté Green, the prospect whom the Kings sought for Artest, is eligible to be traded Aug. 14. An NBA executive with knowledge of the talks said Wednesday: “The deal is happening.”
Yao was generally positive about the trade but concerned about team chemistry.
“For some reason, I like (Artest),” Yao said. “Because in the games we play against him, I hate him.
“When I text-messaged with Luis (Scola), we talked about team chemistry. That’s only what worries us. We worry about the new attitude to the team. We are adding talent to the team, and we need that, but building team chemistry is important. This is not bad. I don’t mean he is not welcome to Houston. But a new player always needs some time.
“There’s worry. Obviously, yes. ... Hopefully, he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands. ... I have to find a way to talk to him and see what we can do as a basketball team. He has a history, but we know he is a physical player. He is a good player. He really can help us.”On his way regardless
Artest seemed unsure what to think of Yao’s comments, saying both that he will join the Rockets and that he will make the move only if the Rockets — and specifically Yao — sufficiently demonstrate they truly want him. Either way, NBA rules do not give him a choice.
“This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao’s team, you know,” Artest said. “I’m not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto. 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. But really, he doesn’t have to talk to me, because to me, I’m going (to Houston).”
The Rockets who have known Artest longest argued that the move will be as beneficial for him as it is for the Rockets.
Rafer Alston, who has known Artest for 16 years since they grew up about 10 minutes apart in Queens, N.Y., and Shane Battier, who has played with or against Artest since they were AAU stars 15 years ago, said the influence of the Rockets’ leadership would help Artest avoid the problems and missteps that have marked his career.
“When I heard it, I was excited, not just for the team, but also for a good friend of mine to come to a new team and start over with a team that is perfect for him,” Alston said. “We have guys with a great sense of humor and veteran guys who are aware of who he is as an individual. (Coach) Rick (Adelman) had him before, a coach that can deal with him. He just has to come in and let his play speak for itself.”
Battier first played against Artest when Battier was a member of the Motown Mavericks AAU team and Artest shared a Riverside Church frontcourt with Lamar Odom and Elton Brand. Battier later played with him at the Hoops Summit and McDonald’s All-American game, and then against him in the NBA.
“I do like our locker room. I feel we can give him the best atmosphere to succeed. We have a good group of guys, hard workers, not a lot of ego. I can’t speak to what Ron went through on other teams, but this can be great for him.”
Excited about move
In many ways, Artest seemed to agree.
“I’m just excited to be reunited with Rick Adelman,” he said. “I don’t care about anything else. If Rick Adelman has Yao Ming, they win championships without even thinking about me. I don’t even want people to think that because the Houston Rockets are acquiring Ron Artest, then that’s the reason they’ll get over the hump. They would’ve been over the hump if Yao Ming hadn’t gone down (last season).
“I’ll come off the bench; I don’t care. Let Shane start, and bring me off as a sixth man or seventh man. I would love to come off the bench in Houston. It doesn’t even matter.”
Asked then if he did plan to join the Rockets, Artest said: “It’s up to Yao Ming. Tracy McGrady called me. I was playing basketball when I heard about it. This is great. This is great for me.”
And it is already interesting for the Rockets.
Staff writer Fran Blinebury contributed to this report.
jonathan.feigen@chron.com
It did not take long for the Rockets to get their first taste of the enigmatic, complicated and often contradictory nature of Ron Artest.
Artest, who will be dealt to the Rockets on Aug. 14 in a trade completed Tuesday afternoon, told the Sacramento Bee he was excited about going to the Rockets but would join them only if they are committed to him. Much of Artest’s hesitance was an apparent reaction to Yao Ming’s wariness of the trade, expressed Wednesday on the Chronicle’s Web site.
“We’ve still got to make sure there’s still a commitment,” Artest told the Bee. “That’s the main thing. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets organization, we’re going to find out how much they really want me there.”
Artest is in the last season of a contract worth $7.4 million, but Rockets officials cannot speak to him until the trade is complete.
There do not, however, seem to be any roadblocks to completing the deal once Donté Green, the prospect whom the Kings sought for Artest, is eligible to be traded Aug. 14. An NBA executive with knowledge of the talks said Wednesday: “The deal is happening.”
Yao was generally positive about the trade but concerned about team chemistry.
“For some reason, I like (Artest),” Yao said. “Because in the games we play against him, I hate him.
“When I text-messaged with Luis (Scola), we talked about team chemistry. That’s only what worries us. We worry about the new attitude to the team. We are adding talent to the team, and we need that, but building team chemistry is important. This is not bad. I don’t mean he is not welcome to Houston. But a new player always needs some time.
“There’s worry. Obviously, yes. ... Hopefully, he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands. ... I have to find a way to talk to him and see what we can do as a basketball team. He has a history, but we know he is a physical player. He is a good player. He really can help us.”On his way regardless
Artest seemed unsure what to think of Yao’s comments, saying both that he will join the Rockets and that he will make the move only if the Rockets — and specifically Yao — sufficiently demonstrate they truly want him. Either way, NBA rules do not give him a choice.
“This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao’s team, you know,” Artest said. “I’m not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto. 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. But really, he doesn’t have to talk to me, because to me, I’m going (to Houston).”
The Rockets who have known Artest longest argued that the move will be as beneficial for him as it is for the Rockets.
Rafer Alston, who has known Artest for 16 years since they grew up about 10 minutes apart in Queens, N.Y., and Shane Battier, who has played with or against Artest since they were AAU stars 15 years ago, said the influence of the Rockets’ leadership would help Artest avoid the problems and missteps that have marked his career.
“When I heard it, I was excited, not just for the team, but also for a good friend of mine to come to a new team and start over with a team that is perfect for him,” Alston said. “We have guys with a great sense of humor and veteran guys who are aware of who he is as an individual. (Coach) Rick (Adelman) had him before, a coach that can deal with him. He just has to come in and let his play speak for itself.”
Battier first played against Artest when Battier was a member of the Motown Mavericks AAU team and Artest shared a Riverside Church frontcourt with Lamar Odom and Elton Brand. Battier later played with him at the Hoops Summit and McDonald’s All-American game, and then against him in the NBA.
“I do like our locker room. I feel we can give him the best atmosphere to succeed. We have a good group of guys, hard workers, not a lot of ego. I can’t speak to what Ron went through on other teams, but this can be great for him.”
Excited about move
In many ways, Artest seemed to agree.
“I’m just excited to be reunited with Rick Adelman,” he said. “I don’t care about anything else. If Rick Adelman has Yao Ming, they win championships without even thinking about me. I don’t even want people to think that because the Houston Rockets are acquiring Ron Artest, then that’s the reason they’ll get over the hump. They would’ve been over the hump if Yao Ming hadn’t gone down (last season).
“I’ll come off the bench; I don’t care. Let Shane start, and bring me off as a sixth man or seventh man. I would love to come off the bench in Houston. It doesn’t even matter.”
Asked then if he did plan to join the Rockets, Artest said: “It’s up to Yao Ming. Tracy McGrady called me. I was playing basketball when I heard about it. This is great. This is great for me.”
And it is already interesting for the Rockets.
Staff writer Fran Blinebury contributed to this report.
jonathan.feigen@chron.com
