LeBron James recalls being locked down in his rookie year by Ron Artest: "Okay, this is what the league is about"
LeBron James recalls being locked down in his rookie year by Ron Artest: "Okay, this is what the league is about" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Having played 22 seasons in the NBA, LeBron James has faced every type of defender and defensive scheme in the game. With him at the top of every opposing team's scouting report, it was almost impossible for King James to be caught off guard. But there was one defender who stood out from the rest and taught him a valuable lesson about what defense in the Association was all about: Ron Artest.
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Addressing a question posed to him and Steve Nash on the "Mind The Game" podcast, James discussed why the man now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest challenged him in ways few defenders could.
The fiercest defender of that era
LBJ entered the NBA during the 2003-2004 season, which coincidentally was the same season that Metta won his first and only Defensive Player of the Year award. That meant that the bull-strong 6'7" small forward was at the peak of his powers defensively, taking on the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Paul Pierce with the fearlessness of a lion stalking prey on the savannah.
Not only did LeBron witness this, but he felt it firsthand in his fifth game as a pro.
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"Oh my goodness, really good with his hands. Laterally, he was really good. Strong as an ox. I played against him during my early years when he was still in Indiana. I mean, it was challenging, for sure. He was one of the best defenders I've probably ever played against," the four-time MVP remarked.
In that game, played at the Conseco Fieldhouse on November 7, 2003, LeBron finished with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists. However, he also committed an eye-watering seven turnovers, thanks to Artest's defensive prowess. The experience was an eye-opener for young Bron.
"Ron definitely had you thinking, 'Okay, this is what the league is about.' It forces you to lock in. It was one hell of a test for me, especially as an 18-year-old kid straight out of high school. Going against someone like that, with a target on your back, it felt like, 'Okay, yeah, I love this. This is awesome,'" the four-time champ commented.
Related: "I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature" - Michael Jordan on why he can't get himself to be a fan of any one player in the NBA
Nash talks about Kidd's prowess as a defender
Nash's best years came during the early 2000s when he helmed the high-powered offense of the "Seven Seconds or Less" Phoenix Suns. It was also a time when big men consistently won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Save for Artest, every DPOY trophy from 2000 to 2010 went to a power forward or center.
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"When you go back to my era and the early parts of your career. The game was different then. When you talked about defenders, you typically thought about rim protectors. Tim Duncan, for example, had an incredible feel for space and the ability to block shots. KG had that versatility to him as well and was also an incredible communicator," Nash stated.
However, Steve, a two-time MVP, noted that one player who is often overlooked in conversations about defensive ability is Jason Kidd.
"I remember one time during a game — late in the game — we were trying to press. The other team was taking the ball out of bounds, and there were guys positioned 10 to 12 feet on either side of him. One of the guys kind of made a move one direction, and Jason faked and threw the pass the opposite way," Steve narrated. "He picked it off. I remember thinking, 'Rewind that.' I was on the court watching it happen, and I'm wondering how he pulled that off. He had the guy leaning, baited the pass, and then stole it."
The early 2000s were an era marked by incredible defense, as shown by defensive-minded teams like the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs. It wasn't by any means pretty, but it produced the necessary results.
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Related: "Me personally, wanted to see the Golden State again" - LeBron James admitted he was only waiting to battle it out against the Warriors in 2016
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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