I tuned out of Free Darko after overloading and plowing through their excellent book. I went through the archives from this year and it looks like I’ve been missing out, but I’ve started reading them again and they’ve got some good thoughts about the Ron Artest signing.
Like it or not, there is something admirable about Artest. Otherwise, he’d be a garden-variety sociopath. He’s no longer a symbol of instability or risk, but of the enduring quality that could redeem such a blood-blender of a career: the fact that, at the time, he sure did mean it.
You might also say he’s the opposite of Kobe Bryant, who by the least charitable reading, is the form of conviction without any of its substance. That would of course be totally wrong and unfair (though I expect to hear it echoed in the comments section), and yet it gets at something of Kobe’s, well, dullness. Artest is complicated in the literal sense, of things fucking each other up and getting in each other’s way. Kobe’s complicated like a watch or schematic, and it’s only us on the outside who don’t see the internal logic. Ron Artest is inconvenienced by logic, Kobe redeemed by it.
If anything, it’s gonna be an exciting year in Los Angeles. While I’m at it, here are some other views on Artest to the Lakers. TrueHoop thinks he’s one of the best players the Lakers could have acquired.
Ron Artest was at his worst two years ago in Sacramento. He was not, as Larry Brown would say, playing the right way. He broke plays to go one-on-one. He appeared to be using his full complement of defensive skills on only a fraction of plays. He felt bad for missing jumpers (something he has never been amazing at) and then grew determined to get the points back for his team by … forcing more jumpers. But despite all that, even with the Kings he was one of the best and most productive players on the roster — as he has been throughout his career. The lesson, to me, is that Artest has something in common with LeBron James besides build. James is way better, of course, but both have strengths that overwhelm notable flaws. (I think of them as the “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset” players.) The conditions could not be more favorable now. A championship on the line, a team with powerful leaders and a legacy to be built. Purple and gold, I suspect, is going to look very good on Ron Artest.
And SLAM gives Ron a few pointers.
YouǃÙre not Dennis Rodman: Dennis was one of the first names mentioned when this deal was announced. Rodman was a force of nature when he joined the Bulls in 1996, a crazy, cross-dressing, hair coloring, rebounding machine that was delivered to us straight from the caves of hell. But hereǃÙs the thing. Dennis was way, way more of a headcase than you. YouǃÙre infinitely more manageable.(Kobe and Phil wonǃÙt have to reign you in nearly as much as Mike and Phil did with Rodman. They understand that you will say and do wild things from time to time, and may have to serve a suspension or two during the season – just to get it out of your system – but if the last few years have proven anything, is that youǃÙve *gulp* matured and toned down the crazy.)
As a side note (I’d give this its own post if I had something specific to link to), I’ve been seeing a few things about what Shaq’s nickname should be. “Big Witness Protection Agency” came up during his interview on PTI yesterday and he seemed to like it. I sure do, especially given his past as a volunteer policeman.