NBA Top 25: Ron Artest (No.25)

JSep 11, 2009

There are seldom those that would include Artest in their "Top 50," let alone in the "Top 25." But seldom an individual realizes, just how good a player Ron Artest really is.

In a career spanning ten years, he's managed to do exactly what is expected of any player. Win.

Certainly, Artest's been called many things over the years, but the term "winner" and "Artest" have never usually been congruent. Yet, amazingly, he's managed to accumulate a winning percentile over his decade-long career, despite having played on some god-awful teams. The '00 Bulls immediately come to mind, with the previous year's team coming in a close second.

As such, when Artest is in the line-up, his teams have gone a combined 303-301 (wins-losses respectively). However, barring his first two-and-half years in the NBA — on a horribly coached Bulls squad — the rate at which Artest's teams have won are astounding. He's 263-166 when included in the rotation.

But those aren't even his most telling numbers. To give precedence, after his trade from the Pacers, Artest managed to help the Kings go 26-14, finishing the season with a strong 20-9 mark (following the All-Star Break). Prior to Artest's arrival in Sacramento, the Kings were a sub-par 18-24.

Even two season's ago when the Kings finished 38-44, with Artest on the floor, they were 30-27 (notwithstanding his own legal issues). Mediocre to be fair, but when you consider all of the outlying circumstances and the fact that Sacramento went 8-17 without him, his worth becomes increasingly apparent. Nevertheless, one must still look at the type of player Ron Artest is on the court, to fully appreciate his value.

To begin with, by nature, Ron Artest is intense. His desire to compete and win is matched by few, and his consistency even fewer. This is reinforced by a temperament that can only be described as volatile. Though it usually works in his favor, it can be detrimental (at times) to his boon. However, instances like the Pacers-Pistons brawl have generally been few (by comparison). To be accurate, Artest has only been suspended once for on-the-court "physical" altercation (his domestic issues being a different matter altogether).

In addition, he's also a good offensive player. You couldn't tell by the hideously obscene manner in which he attacks the rim, like an injured race horse that forces itself to plod to the finish line, but he can score (albeit inefficiently). Particularly in one-on-one situations, where he can use his broad, brawny shoulders to prod and push away at the defense, creating space for a step back jump-shot or one of his aforementioned drives.

Of course, Artest will never be remembered for his offensive capabilities, even by his staunchest supporters. What most will commemorate to his memory, is his defensive acumen. Which ranks high, even following it's drop in efficiency in recent years. The rule changes of course, being what hurt it the most.

All negatives aside though, Artest is still a genuine bully on the perimeter. He beats the opposition up with his large size and muscular frame. And certainly, Artest is in the discussion for best wing defender in the NBA, year in, year out. But it doesn't end there with "Ron-Ron," he's also an absolute glutton at corralling forced turnovers. He doesn't simply strip the ball, he pressures it, snatching it appropriately with a ferocity that is central to his dogma.

Call Artest "whatever" you want, but he's a "winner" foremost, "whatever" else second.