Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was a truly once in a lifetime talent who had the will and drive to win to take his game to an elite level.
With six NBA final wins from six appearances, Michael Jordan created a legacy that no current player has been able to match, despite LeBron James’ best efforts.
Jordan left a huge impression on everybody he played against or played with, and one of those was Ron Artest, later known as Metta World Peace, and currently Metta Sandiford-Artest.
When he was known as Artest, Jordan reached out to the reigning NBA defensive player of the year at the time, at his hour of need.
In 2004, Ron Artest became embroiled in the most unsavory scenes ever seen on a NBA court, when he brawled with Detroit Pistons fans.
Artest reacted badly when a cup was thrown at him, and sparked a full scale brawl now infamously referred to as Malice At The Palace.
The star was playing for the Indiana Pacers at the time, and was slapped with a heavy 86-game ban.
Speaking to Byron Scott’s Fast Break, Sandiford-Artest says he was stunned to get a phone call from Michael Jordan after the incident.
He explained: “The brawl, he was the only player to call me, really, yeah, Mike. MJ, man. I remember the call.
“He was like, ‘No, I’m gonna try to get you back’. So when he said, I’m gonna get back, [I thought] oh, I’m back.”
Despite Michael Jordan raising his hopes, it was a pledge not even the greatest basketball player of all time could deliver.
NBA commissioner at the time David Stern came down hard on Ron Artest, sticking to the severe suspension handed to the player.
Artest reflected: “It don’t even matter. MJ, ain’t that powerful, man. I never come back [early].”
Jordan had retired in 2003 and was not in the league at the time – but he retained a strong relationship with Artest, who appreciated him reaching out.
“He invited me to his office in Chicago. That was just… I got a chance to sit with Mike… incredible.”
Artest did later come back, going on to win the NBA Championship with the LA Lakers in 2010, taking down the Boston Celtics.
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