Metta Sandiford-Artest was shocked by 2004 Team USA snub: "I would've been a ballboy. I would've gotten all the guys water"
Looking back at the individual award winners from the 2003-04 NBA season, a noticeable pattern emerges. Kevin Garnett, the Most Valuable Player, and LeBron James, the Rookie of the Year, were both invited to join Team USA for the 2004 Athens Olympics.
However, Metta Sandiford-Artest, who won Defensive Player of the Year that season, did not receive the same honor. Despite securing this prestigious award, the Indiana Pacers were left waiting for a call that never came, leaving Artest both puzzled and frustrated.
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"I was surprised the Defensive Player of the Year didn't get an invite, didn't get called," he said in August 2004, per the NY Post. "I would've been a ballboy. I would've gotten all the guys water. I would've done anything to be down there. It's hard to point out [what's wrong] when it's so frustrating not being there, so frustrating not getting an invite."
All-Star rise
From a basketball standpoint, Metta was undeniably one of the top contenders for a spot on Team USA's trip to Greece's capital. This was particularly true as he was playing some of the best basketball of his career at that time.
The 6'7" swingman's defensive skills were especially impressive, making him one of the league's best in that regard. In fact, his defensive game was so outstanding that it ended Ben Wallace's streak of what would have been his third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award.
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But Metta wasn't just a force on defense — his offensive game had evolved just as impressively. With averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for the Pacers, the New York native was delivering the best statistical season of his career.
Artest's efforts didn't go unnoticed: he earned a well-deserved All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
Related: "A game for sissies" - Wilt Chamberlain admitted he only started playing basketball because he was from Philadelphia
Did Metta's image play a part?
Despite becoming one of the NBA's most impactful two-way players and earning individual awards to prove it, no invitation ever came. Metta believed the reason had little to do with basketball and everything to do with his reputation.
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The now 45-year-old openly called the decision "political," suggesting that his image — shaped by past controversies and emotional outbursts — unfairly continued to overshadow his on-court growth.
"I was third-team All-NBA, All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year. All the top guys not playing, there's room for me. I was one of the guys who wanted to be there," he reflected, highlighting not just his credentials but his willingness to serve.
"If there was a bomb that went off, I would've been fine and played the next day," Metta added, underlining his commitment.
While the future NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers may have believed that individual performance and commitment would be enough to earn a spot, national team selections often involve more than just skill. Sometimes, they reflect the image a country wants to show the world.
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In Metta's case, his troubled past — especially his controversial role in the "Malice at the Palace" — likely played a major part. Even though he had grown as a player, decision-makers might have worried that picking someone with a history of scandals would send the wrong message. In the end, it's not only about how much you've changed but also about how people still see you.
Related: David Robinson spoke about finding it hard to communicate with Kawhi Leonard: "He's a hard guy to understand and read"
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