Latest news with #MettaSandifordArtest
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Better Than Michael Jordan, Claims Former Bulls Star
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is Better Than Michael Jordan, Claims Former Bulls Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's no denying Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just delivered one of the most impressive seasons in NBA history. The Oklahoma City Thunder star led his team to a championship, outlasting the Indiana Pacers in seven games and capping a year that will be remembered for decades. Advertisement Now, the debate has turned to where Gilgeous-Alexander fits among the game's all-time greats. In doing so, the Thunder guard joined elite company. He became just the fourth player in NBA history to win a scoring title, regular-season MVP, and finals MVP in the same season, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal. That rare feat prompted former NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Ron Artest, to drop a bold comparison: that at times, SGA is better than Michael Jordan. "People laughed at my quote with I said 'at times' @shaiglalex is better than MJ. Explain this . Shai is 1st ballot and will get more than 3 rings. That statement was originally made during the Western Conference finals between the Thunder and Timberwolves. In an interview with Essentially Sports, he expanded on the idea: Advertisement 'I think SGA is at times better than Michael Jordan. At times, when you look at SGA's games, he is the best basketball player that probably touched the front, top and bottom…Every move you ever dreamed of.' Speaking on the podcast "Casuals with Katie Nolan," Sandiford-Artest elaborated: "Michael Jordan's done things nobody has ever done, and it looks so elegant. But SGA, the way he plays the game, through the legs, behind the back, step back, crossover, spins, it's exactly how he wants to play it.' Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderAlonzo Adams-Imagn Images Gilgeous-Alexander, known for his smooth, methodical style and advanced footwork, has quickly risen to the top of the league. His ability to control tempo and get to his spots on the floor has drawn comparisons to past greats, but few expected his name to be mentioned alongside Jordan, let alone ahead of him. Advertisement Sandiford-Artest, a 6-foot-7 forward, played for the Chicago Bulls from 1999 to 2002 before helping Kobe Bryant and the Lakers win the 2010 NBA title. He was an All-Star in 2004 and played for six NBA teams during his career, which spanned from 1999 to 2017. He's perhaps best remembered for the 2004 'Malice at the Palace' brawl, which led to an 86-game suspension. Michael Jordan, of course, remains the gold standard. He was a six-time NBA champion and won finals MVP every time. He also claimed five regular season MVPs and was selected to 14 All-Star games. Jordan finished his career with 32,292 points, averaging 30.1 per game. Whether SGA ever reaches that kind of legacy is still up for debate, but in the eyes of at least one former All-Star, he's already there at times. Related: Kristaps Porzingis Used Two Words to Describe the Celtics After Being Traded Related: Luka Doncic Reportedly Makes Big Change in Physical Appearance This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement 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.
