Sports Radio Interviews

Ron Artest: “I Think LA. Gives Me the Best Shot for a Ring”

SRI continues to work in new writers.  This post is courtesy of Chris Fedor of WKNR in Cleveland.  You can say what you want about Ron Artest and it all may be true.  He’s eccentric, he may not even be from this planet, he’s a little bit nutty at times and he says things that make you just scratch your head.  All those things are definitely accurate, but another thing that happens to be true is that he is a very good basketball player.  Artest is one of the most difficult players to guard in the NBA because his strength can be too much for a shooting guard and his speed can be too much for a small forward.  He can play with his back to the basket, take his defender off the dribble and even extend his game beyond the three point arch.  Needless to say, he has a very dynamic game offensively and also happens to be one of the best defensive players in the entire NBA.

This offseason, he was a free agent and pretty much had his pick of where he wanted to go to try and get a ring.  He decided the best place for him to go was the defending NBA Champions.  The Lakers did lose Trevor Ariza, but everybody else is back for another title run.  Ron Artest brings the Lakers an element that they have not had in quite a long time: a lockdown defender with a tough attitude.

Ron Artest joined XX Sports Radio in San Diego with Darren Smith to talk about playing with Kobe Bryant, why he came to LA and getting to play for Phil Jackson.

On whether he has talked with Kobe Bryant since coming to LA:

“Yeah, a lot. Kobe’s cool. He’s doing well. He’s taking care of himself and his family. He’s getting ready for the season so I know he will be ready.”

On the difference between him and Kobe on the court and him and Kobe off the court:

“On the court is like we’re competing.  I know people saw us as two great competitors trying to win. Ultimately we want that ring and that’s what you saw out there.  That’s why he got it.  They beat us and then he went on to take it.  The two best competitors in the NBA.”

On his desire to win a ring:

“Yeah. Everybody wants that. I want it bad and I think it just gives me the best shot playing with a bunch of hungry young players.”

On getting to play for Phil Jackson:

“He’s the best. Everybody knows he can possibly get 12 or 13 rings you know he’ll be one of the greatest all time coaches. I want that for him and I want some great things for myself.”

Listen to Ron Artest on XX Sports Radio in San Diego with Darren Smith

Tags: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA interviews, Ron Artest