Artest Is Chosen Top Defender
Ron Artest finally got the type of recognition he says he deserves.
The Indiana forward was the runaway choice for NBA defensive player of the year on Monday, the same day he was suspended for one game for leaving the bench during a confrontation in the Pacers’ Game 1 victory over the Boston Celtics.
He received 476 points out of a possible 605, including 80 of 121 first-place votes from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.
“I’ve been doing it behind the scenes since I was a rookie in Chicago,” said Artest, who finished second to Detroit’s Ben Wallace last season. “It’s just been behind the scenes. People know I’m coming out to stop them and it hasn’t changed since.”
Wallace, a two-time defensive player of the year, finished second, and Portland’s Theo Ratliff was third.
Artest will miss Game 2 of the Pacers’ series against Boston tonight after leaving the bench Saturday during an on-court altercation.
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Memphis Grizzly forward James Posey was fined $3,000 by the NBA for a flagrant foul against Manu Ginobili in Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
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