Tag: Metta Sandiford-Artest

Metta Sandiford-Artest thinks highly of Bronny James’ potential

While many are down on Bronny James’ chances of succeeding in the NBA, former Laker Metta Sandiford-Artest thinks he can go far.

A year ago, the stock of Bronny James, LeBron James’ son, was rising rapidly. ESPN put him in the top 10 of its mock 2024 draft, and people were tantalized by his potential.

But the younger James struggled as a freshman at the University of Southern California. He averaged 4.8 points a game while shooting a very low percentage from the field, which forced people to reevaluate their opinions of him.

One former NBA executive said his NBA upside would be that of Gary Harris, a merely decent shooting guard for the Orlando Magic. Plenty are now of the opinion that the 19-year-old should stay in school rather than declare for this year’s draft.

But former Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta Sandiford-Artest is optimistic about the younger James’ prospects (h/t Lakers Daily).

“I think he has a good option,” Sandiford-Artest told TMZ Sports when asked what advice he would give James. “He’s very athletic. I still think he hasn’t grown into his body yet. So, I don’t know if he’s going to be top 50 all time. But in terms of his ability to become a really good player, a starting point guard, I think he’ll be a point guard. He obviously can play the 2. But I think with his unselfish play, with his passing ability, like I said, he’s only a freshman.

“So, a lot of people was talking about his numbers, but name a freshman that never averaged more than four or five and then had no chance going pro. Freshman numbers are freshman numbers, right? So, I think he has a shot to be a really good point guard, a starting point guard, maybe even an All-Star.”

Per Adrian Wojnarowski, the James clan is more interested in finding the right developmental environment for the younger James than which team would draft him, should he declare for the draft.

Bulls alum Metta Sandiford-Artest to play in 2024 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

The sole NBA veteran playing for either team, we expect Sandiford-Artest to take it easier than he used to.

There will be a familiar face for Chicago Bulls fans in the NBA’s annual Celebrity All-Star Game this year. Former Bulls forward Metta Sandiford-Artest will be suiting up for Team Stephen A., the celebrity squad coached by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, according to an official release by the NBA.

Sandiford-Artest was drafted out of St. John’s by the Bulls with the 16th pick of the 1999 NBA draft. He’ll be joined by Jennifer Hudson, Tristan Jass, Jack Ryan, AJ McLean, Kwame Onwuachi, Natasha Cloud, Adam Blackstone, CJ Stroud, and Gianmarco Tamberi as players for Team Stephen A.

They will play Team Shannon (for ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe, who is also coaching). with Micah Parsons, Quincy Isaiah, Conor Daly, Kai Cenat, Dylan Wang, Lilly Singh, SiR, Walker Hayes, and Anuel AA playing for that team.

Team Stephen A. also has A’ja Wilson and Lil Wayne as coaches, and Team Shannon has Payton Manning and 50 Cent as coaches for the 2024 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, to be held in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The sole NBA veteran playing for either team, we expect Sandiford-Artest to take it easier than he used to on Friday night. The game is set to kick off at 6 p.m. CT.

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Ex-Laker Metta Sandiford-Artest believes Victor Wembanyama will have 101-point game

Former Los Angeles Lakers champion Metta Sandiford-Artest thinks San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama can score 101 points in a game.

It’s become evidently clear that San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama has the talent to be a franchise player in the NBA. Stars around the league have spoken highly of his play, and every time he steps onto the court, opposing teams have to adjust their style because of his defensive presence.

Offensively, he still needs some work, but with his height, ability to handle the ball, and range from deep, he’ll quickly turn into one of the most dangerous scorers in the league if he plays his cards right. One former NBA champion even believes he could break one of Wilt Chamberlain’s records.

Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Ron Artest and Metta World Peace, believes that Wembanyama will score 101 points in a game one day. He called him “the closest thing to Wilt [Chamberlain].” (H/t Jason Simpson of Lakers Daily)

“[Wembanyama] is the closest to Wilt that we’ll ever see…He’s going to run into a Detroit Pistons from this year, or the Clippers from 20 years ago, and he going to go get 101,” Sandiford-Artest said via FanDeul TV’s Run It Back.

Through the first 28 games of his young career, Wembanyama’s career-high is 38 points, a far way away from the 101 Sandiford-Artest thinks he can score.

The closest a player has gotten to Chamberlain’s record thus far was Kobe Bryant, when he put up 82 points. Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell both scored 71 points in a game last year.

It seems crazy to think Wembanyama, or any player, could score 101 points in a game, but players are getting closer. And offenses are only getting more impressive.

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Metta Sandiford-Artest leaves LeBron James off his list of five greatest NBA players ever

Former Lakers forward Metta Sandiford-Artest doesn’t seem to feel LeBron James ranks as high on the list of the greatest ever as many do.

Over the last decade or so, LeBron James has been racking up championships and individual accolades. Those have led to him, according to many, climbing the ranks of the greatest players in NBA history.

An increasing number of people think he’s the greatest player ever, and most seem to consider him one of the five greatest players in basketball history.

But, of course, such lists are somewhat subjective, and thus there are some who rank the four-time MVP and all-time leading scorer lower.

One of them is former Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta Sandiford-Artest. He didn’t include James on his list of the five greatest NBA stars ever, and his list is pretty interesting (h/t Lakers Daily).

Russell, Curry and perhaps even Chamberlain to a certain extent aren’t often considered to be in the top five players of all time. At the same time, Kobe Bryant, whom Sandiford-Artest won a world title with in 2010, isn’t on this list either.

Metta Sandiford-Artest learned golf from a Lakers legend, shows love for game at 2023 U.S. Open

“I think golf is a sport for me,” said Sandiford-Artest, who learned the game from a Lakers legend.

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LOS ANGELES – With a U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, celebrities were bound to come out and catch the action off Wilshire Boulevard.

But Justin Thomas was surprised to see one particular person following his Tuesday practice round alongside Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and amateur Michael Brennan.

“I was like, damn, I didn’t think I’d get to see Metta World Peace today,” he said with a laugh.

The former NBA champion and All-Star was known as both Ron Artest and Metta World Peace, but now goes by Metta Sandiford-Artest. The 43-year-old spent 17 seasons in the NBA with six different teams, but 18 months ago found the game of golf thanks to another former basketball player, none other than three-time champion and Los Angeles Lakers legend “Big Game James” Worthy.

“I don’t know. I don’t even know NBA players’ names, let alone these guys,” said Sandiford-Artest. “I love basketball, but I really love golf now. I’m so happy I found the sport. Really, really happy I found the sport.”

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The New York native and St. John’s product freely admits he isn’t very good, but that hasn’t stopped him from taking advantage of every opportunity to play that he can.

“I’ve been getting invited to play at different places, so I’m showing up to any course I can play at, especially a good course,” he said with a laugh. “If people invite me anywhere, like Bermuda, I’ll go play.”

Sandiford-Artest is really just happy he can get his ball in the air and going straight for once, noting how “My first year and a half, everything was scraping the floor.” A Lakers star in his own right and way, Sandiford-Artest won his only title with the team in 2010 and plans to come catch the action this week at the ultra-exclusive club tucked away in Beverly Hills.

“I like it because you have to focus. If you fall asleep, the balls are gonna turn right or left on you. So you can focus and compete, and you’re competing against yourself for the most part, which I really love.

“I think golf is a sport for me.”

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Metta Sandiford-Artest on what Lakers can expect from Darvin Ham

Metta Sandiford-Artest, who played for new Lakers coach Darvin Ham several years ago, talks about what L.A. can expect from him.

After a disastrous 2021-22 season, the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans are feeling a bit of hope now that it has been reported the team has hired Darvin Ham to be its next head coach.

Ham is regarded around the league as a strong communicator, a solid leader and someone who has a firm grasp of the strategic aspect of basketball.

He has been an assistant coach for several years, most recently with the Milwaukee Bucks over the last four seasons. But he started his coaching career with the Lakers in the 2011-12 season, when Metta World Peace (now Metta Sandiford-Artest) was still wearing the Purple and Gold.

Sandiford-Artest talked about what the Lakers can expect from their new bench leader.

Via Lakers Daily:

“Sandiford-Artest explained to the Los Angeles Times how Ham always has his players’ best interests at heart, which will certainly be important for the Lakers in the 2022-23 season.

“‘He was working hard, working all the players out, worked me out,’ Sandiford-Artest said regarding the impact Ham made as a Lakers assistant many years ago. ‘He worked out everybody. He was involved heavy and was very direct; very, very direct, which I really loved.’

“‘… He definitely understands modern basketball. He also is capable of communicating in a way where you can receive it the right way. He’s definitely a presence, but he also has a communication about him that is, I’m not going to say soft, but you understand that he has your best interest at heart.'”

Sandiford-Artest isn’t the only one who has worked with Ham who is predicting good things for him and the Lakers.

Chauncey Billups, who played with Ham on the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons, also sung his praises after he was hired by L.A.

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Metta Sandiford-Artest wants to become NBA head coach

Metta Sandiford-Artest is aiming for a return to the NBA and feels he has unfinished business.

During his first 10 seasons in the NBA, Metta Sandiford-Artest, then known as Ron Artest, had a checkered reputation.

He was one of the league’s best two-way players, as he was a guy who could lock opponents down defensively while dropping 20 points on the offensive end consistently.

However, he was involved in some ugly incidents, the most infamous of them being the so-called “Malice at the Palace,” a massive brawl at an Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons in which he and other Pacers players fought with fans and got suspended for the balance of the season.

When Sandiford-Artest joined the Lakers in the summer of 2009, many thought he was an unsavory character, but some, such as Kobe Bryant and head coach Phil Jackson, felt he was nothing more than a misunderstood soul.

Sandiford-Artest fought back his demons in his first season in L.A. and helped the Purple and Gold win the NBA championship over the Boston Celtics while suddenly becoming a fan favorite.

But several years after retiring as a player, he’s not done with basketball.

He says he wants to become a head coach and reach the pinnacle of the sport once again.

Via SportsNet New York:

“I’m definitely trying to be a head coach one day in the NBA. I’m not really forcing it. I do have a couple people reaching out to different teams. But one day, I would love to be a head coach in the NBA. I still got a lot of unfinished business in terms of winning. Because of how I got suspended, I missed out on All-Star Games, I missed out on All-Defensive First Teams, I missed out on more championships. So I’m still motivated. … I’m just as motivated as I was when I was a 15-year-old kid in the streets.

“One day I do wanna win a title as an NBA head coach. That’s my intentions.”

Over the years, Sandiford-Artest has greatly repaired his image and entered the good graces of many. He has done some admirable work in the area of mental health awareness by talking about his own struggles and urging others to seek help if needed.

He has come a long way from the man most thought he was in the 2000s.

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Metta Sandiford-Artest picks Lakers to win NBA title, wants Carmelo Anthony to have a ring

Former Los Angeles Laker Metta Sandiford-Artest is going for the Lakers to win it all this year with Carmelo Anthony being a factor.

Carmelo Anthony has played nearly 20 seasons in the NBA and has garnered many accomplishments in that span.

However, the one piece that has eluded him has been an NBA title.

Anthony had good stretches with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, but those teams weren’t quite good enough to reach the final stage of the season. The same applies to his recent two-year stint with the Portland Trail Blazers.

But now that Anthony is with the Los Angeles Lakers, he is on the most talented roster he’s ever played with. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook are the star trio that looks like they can assemble a title run, but the on-court fit must first be proven to work.

Former Laker Metta Sandiford-Artest made his selection on Twitter for who will win the title this year, and Anthony plays a major factor:

The two were teammates in the 2013-14 season while with the Knicks, but Artest earned his ring in 2009 with the Lakers.

Anthony said during his introductory conference that he wants to win a ring this year with L.A. because it’s the one thing he’s missing.

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