Ron Artest Guarantees NBA Title for LA Lakers in 2012: Is He Crazy or on Point?

Ron Artest has guaranteed a championship for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011-12 NBA season.

That is, if there even is a season.

In an interview with Stephen A. Smith, when asked what the Lakers will be able to do next season following a disappointing end to the 2010-11 season, the forward provided a predictably wild answer.

"Win the whole thing," Artest said. "That's a guarantee."

In just seven words, Artest did his best Rex Ryan impersonation and guaranteed the Lakers would win the upcoming title before the season has begun.

Right now, the best-case scenario for the NBA and its players would have the season starting at a later point than it usually would, resulting in a shortened campaign.

On the surface, that might actually be beneficial to an aging Lakers team that was the league's second-oldest franchise in 2010-11, but let's dig a little deeper.

There are a lot of rapidly improving teams in the NBA. Most notably, the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder all stand to present serious challenges to the Lakers going forward.

The team also has to contend with current threats like San Antonio and Boston in an effort to win another championship, and both teams will be equally as motivated to win another ring before time runs out on an open championship window.

Los Angeles experienced a major shakeup on the bench this season when Phil Jackson finally retired and the Lakers introduced Mike Brown as his successor.

Brown brought in new assistants to the team and plans to install a new style of play at both ends of the floor, and those types of changes rarely go seamlessly and without bumps in the road.

The Lakers also have to address the personnel issues on the roster, as the team's depth is laughable along the front line and the production from the point guard spot was rather pathetic last season.

None of that seems to be an issue for Artest, who didn't bat an eyelash when Smith asked what can the general public can do to Artest should his guarantee go unfulfilled.

"We're going to win," he answered. "You can do anything you want to do. Whatever you want to do, you do it."

Lakers fans will undoubtedly remember this prediction and will come looking to Artest for answers if the team once again comes up short.