In ten days, we will “celebrate” eighteen years of this unfortunate and regrettable fight known as “Malice at the Palace”. A major event in NBA history, which notably saw Metta Sandiford-Artest – still called Ron Artest – be suspended for one year (86 games!), after the fact.
Following this sad episode involving Indiana and Detroit, the then reigning Defender of the Year, All-Star and member of the All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team will no longer really find the level, or in any case the status, which was his at the time.
But, without this incident, what would have become of the career and trajectory of Metta Sandiford-Artest? Impossible to answer this very speculative question. On the other hand, for the principal concerned himselfit is obvious that he would have continued his rise to the heights of the league, in Indianapolis.
Looking back, the former Pacers winger actually feels he would have been kind of a Kawhi Leonard before the hour. A player in whom he therefore says he recognizes himself.
” He’s someone I respectfully envy, because I wanted to be like him. », he admits. ” I would never tell him to his face, because I’m ultra competitive, but he’s the kind of player [que je serais devenu] if my career had gone in the right direction. If I hadn’t been suspended [un an] and that things had gone well… »
When a DPOY defends another DPOY…
Therefore, Metta Sandiford-Artest is more the type to take pleasure when it comes to observing Kawhi Leonard on a floor. As if he (re)lived his career by proxy, finally…
” I can live through Kawhi [Leonard] when i watch him play “, adds the 2010 champion. I can smile, because I’m like, ‘OK, even though my career has been cut short in terms of production and performance, Kawhi has reached the next level and won rings and Finals MVP titles. He defends, he attacks, he is big and powerful. I like this. That’s what I wanted to be. »
In addition, Metta Sandiford-Artest was invited to speak on the uncertainties that currently reign around Kawhi Leonard and his state of health, after his last white season. And, as a good bodyguard, he wanted to defend the man who twice won the title of Defender of the Year.
” Kawhi [Leonard] had a great career “, he recalls. ” I assume he will play again in the next few days. He tries to preserve himself, he suffered a nasty injury. Maybe he’s still in a bit of pain and as we know how hard Kawhi plays… It was so unfortunate that he got injured, but hopefully he’ll be back soon. It’s a model. But he’s also a discreet person, so we’ll see. »
| Kawhi Leonard | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2011-12 | SAN | 64 | 24 | 49.3 | 37.6 | 77.3 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.9 |
| 2012-13 | SAN | 58 | 31 | 49.4 | 37.4 | 82.5 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 11.9 |
| 2013-14 | SAN | 66 | 29 | 52.2 | 37.9 | 80.2 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 12.8 |
| 2014-15 | SAN | 64 | 32 | 47.9 | 34.9 | 80.2 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 7.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 16.5 |
| 2015-16 | SAN | 72 | 33 | 50.6 | 44.3 | 87.4 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 21.2 |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 74 | 33 | 48.5 | 38.0 | 88.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 25.5 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 9 | 23 | 46.8 | 31.4 | 81.6 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 16.2 |
| 2018-19 | TOR | 60 | 34 | 49.6 | 37.1 | 85.4 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 26.6 |
| 2019-20 | LAKE | 57 | 32 | 47.0 | 37.8 | 88.6 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 7.1 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 27.1 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 52 | 34 | 51.2 | 39.8 | 88.5 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 24.9 |
| 2022-23 | LAKE | 2 | 21 | 44.4 | 16.7 | 88.9 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 12.5 |
| Total | 578 | 31 | 49.3 | 38.4 | 85.8 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 19.2 | |
