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Ronald William Artest, Jr. (born November 13, 1979) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays with the Houston Rockets of the NBA. Artest gained reputation as one of the premier defenders winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004. However, he has caused controversy in the past for his role as one of the central figures in the Pacers-Pistons brawl.



Sacramento Kings
Though traded midseason to the Kings franchise, Artest quickly found his place on the team by providing some much needed defense. Though many feared his abrasive personality would be a problem, he worked well with his teammates and then coach Rick Adelman. Since acquiring Artest in late January 2006, the team immediately went on a 14-5 run, the team's best run of the season. The Kings broke .500 and landed the eighth spot in the Western Conference. This prompted ESPN to declare that “Ron Artest has breathed new life in the Sacramento Kings and enhanced their chances of reaching the playoffs for the ninth straight year.” Fox Sports proclaimed, “Artest has Kings back in playoff hunt.”
He was suspended for Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs following a flagrant foul (elbow to the head) on Manu Ginóbili. The Kings eventually were eliminated from the playoffs in six games.
After the playoffs, Artest offered to donate his entire salary to keep teammate Bonzi Wells with the team, who became a free agent after the 2005-06 NBA season. He even jokingly threatened to kill Wells if he did not re-sign with the Kings. Wells was later picked up by the Houston Rockets and then traded to the New Orleans Hornets for former Sacramento Kings player Bobby Jackson. Artest also offered to donate his salary to retain the services of head coach Rick Adelman, whose contract expired after the same season. Adelman and the Kings did not agree on a contract extension so the two parted ways.

Houston Rockets
On July 29, 2008, it was reported that Artest was to be traded to the Houston Rockets along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. and Sean Singletary for Bobby Jackson, recently drafted forward Donté Greene, a 2009 first-round draft pick, and cash considerations.The deal was made official on August 14, due to Greene's rookie contract signing on July 14. In response to the trade, Yao Ming was generally positive, but commented that “hopefully he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands.” In response, Artest said, “This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao’s team, you know. I’m not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto. That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture.”
Since then, Artest and Yao have exchanged extensive phone calls. Artest has also said, “Whatever Adelman needs me to do, whether that’s come off the bench, sixth, seventh man, start, I don’t even care. Whatever he needs me to do, I’m 100 percent sure it’s going to work out.”
On October 30, 2008, Artest received his first technical as a Houston Rocket, as he raced towards a group of Mavericks players and then quickly went to Yao Ming who bumped Josh Howard after play stopped. Artest was trying to pull Yao Ming away from the play and to the foul line, but contact was made with Maverick players. The TNT broadcast crew felt this technical was not warranted, and was based upon Artest's prior reputation as a feisty player in the league.

Controversy
In spite of his abilities, Artest has been the subject of much controversy. During his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, he was subject to criticism for applying for a job at Circuit City, just to get an employee discount. He once attended an Indiana Pacers practice in a bath robe.He was suspended for two games in the early 2004-05 season by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after he allegedly asked for a month off because he was tired from promoting an R&B album for the group Allure on his production label.Artest had also been suspended for three games in 2003 for destroying a television camera in Madison Square Garden, New York City, and for four games for a confrontation with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley in 2003. He has also been suspended several times for flagrant fouls.
At the start of the 2004-05 season, Artest changed his uniform number. In past seasons with Indiana, he had worn the number 23 in tribute to NBA legend Michael Jordan. For the 2004-05 season, he wore the number 91; a tribute to former multiple Defensive Player of the Year Award winner Dennis Rodman, another controversial basketball player from the late 1980s and 1990s. After being suspended for the remainder of the season due to his involvement in the Pacers-Pistons brawl, Artest reverted his number back to the original he wore for the majority of his basketball life, number 15, though he switched to number 93 after being traded to the Sacramento Kings. He wore number 93 with Sacramento because he said it represented the Queensbridge projects where he grew up, with the “9” representing the “Q” in Queens and the “3” representing the “B” in Bridge. H Also, the inspiration for Artest choosing 93 as his number was inspired by Souls of Mischief's 1993 album 93 'til Infinity. He has since changed his number to 96 in the Houston Rockets.
In October 2005, Artest gained more attention when he, fully clothed, graced the cover of Penthouse magazine, along with three bikini-clad models.

Legal troubles in Sacramento
Ron Artest's mug shot, taken by the Placer County Sheriff's Dept. in 2007.According to a Placer County report obtained by the Sacramento Bee, on January 30, 2007, Animal Services officers issued a “pre-seizure” notice to Artest regarding suspicions that a dog at his home in Loomis was not receiving adequate food. On February 5, officers returned and seized Socks, a black female Great Dane, removing her into protective custody with a local veterinarian. The seizure action cited a law that requires animal caretakers to “provide proper sustenance.” Artest later sent an email to the Bee, writing “I'm glad to say all problems are solved now, and I'm looking forward to getting my dog back.” In March 2007, his dog was released under a foster care agreement after being treated for more than a month.In April 2007, the Placer County District Attorney's Office announced that it would not file charges against Artest over the incident. It also was reported by Placer County Animal Services and by Artest that he agreed to allow Socks to be adopted by a new owner.[20]
On March 5, 2007, Artest was arrested for domestic abuse, and excused from the Sacramento Kings indefinitely by GM Geoff Petrie. On March 10th, The Kings announced that Artest would return to his team while his case is being reviewed by the Placer County District Attorney. On May 3, he was sentenced to 20 days in jail and community service, however, Artest did not spend any more time in jail as ten days of the sentence were stayed by the judge and Artest served the other 10 days in a work release program.[23] On July 14, 2007, the NBA decided that Artest would serve a seven game suspension at the beginning of the 2007-08 NBA season for his legal problems.