Only Person Who Can Maintain Kobe… Is Now Officially On His Team

Kobe finally got his Pippen.

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Free-agent forward Ron Artest signed Wednesday with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, the team he has wanted to join for some time.

Artest, 29, told reporters Wednesday that he mentioned playing for the Lakers to superstar Kobe Bryant following the NBA final in 2008.

“I just wanted to make that connection,” Artest said. “I wanted to let him know that he played tough and he played great — and I cannot wait to be a teammate of his.”

A year later, Artest was granted his wish.

“It sure was a long time coming,” he said. “I always wanted to be a Laker.

“Coming out of college, I wanted to be a [New York] Knick. As I started to compete against the Lakers and against Kobe, just really out of respect for him, I always wanted to be a teammate of his.”

When the league’s free-agency period began July 1 at midnight ET, Los Angeles opted to pursue Artest rather than re-sign fellow forward Trevor Ariza, who, by coincidence, is replacing Artest on the Houston Rockets roster.

“When the Lakers called at 12:01, I was surprised,” Artest said. “I was just totally shocked and surprised.”

Artest was chosen the NBA’s defensive player of the year with the Indiana Pacers in 2004, the season before he was suspended 73 games for his role in a brawl at Detroit.

He is less truculent these days, but no less effective defensively.

“If you take that brawl away, I have changed anyway,” Artest said. “I have always wanted to try to become a better person, if you take the brawl away.

“If you put the brawl back in that situation, that was something that was out of my control. I’m happy it is over.”

“We have all been in situations we may have done something we regret,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak stated. “But I think if you don’t do it again and you learn from it and you demonstrate that you have learned, then I think that is enough.”

‘I’m probably underpaid but it is OK’.

Artest will make $33 million US over the next five years with the Lakers.

He earned $7.4 million US last season, when he averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 35.5 minutes in 69 games, including 55 starts.

“As you can see, once again, I’m probably underpaid but it is OK,” Artest quipped. “At the end of the day, if you cannot live on 33 million, then you cannot live.”

Artest has averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 34.7 minutes in 535 appearances (507 starts) since he was selected 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1999 NBA draft.

He also spent 2½ seasons with the Sacramento Kings.

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