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NBA probing Artest's run-in with Riley Posted: Tuesday January 28, 2003 6:39 PMINDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Ron Artest is one of the NBA's top defenders. He's also becoming one of the league's top young hotheads, boasting immense talent but unpredictable behavior. Already this season, the Indiana forward has been fined $10,000 for shoving Dallas' Raja Bell and has served a three-game suspension for smashing a $100,000 TV camera in New York. Now, his run-ins with Pat Riley and an obscene gesture toward the Miami crowd Monday night could bring further sanctions. The NBA said Tuesday that it was investigating. "That was bad on my part," Artest admitted after the Pacers' 102-95 win. "I shouldn't have done that. I should know better." Back in Indianapolis, Artest refused to talk to the media after Tuesday's practice. But his teammates and coach came to his defense. "Any athlete that's really competing and putting everything he has in the competition, yeah, sometimes it gets the best of him," coach Isiah Thomas said. "You've got to get the most out of yourself, but if you're going to go to the limit, you've got to put it all on the line." Artest, who came to Indiana as part of a seven-player trade with Chicago last year, is the Pacers' second-leading scorer and is fourth in the league in steals with an aggressive, unrelenting determination. And to be sure, he hasn't reached the bad-boy level of, say, Rasheed Wallace. The Trail Blazers' big man led the NBA in technical fouls each of the past three years, set a league record with 41 technicals two years ago and is now serving a seven-game suspension for confronting and threatening a referee outside the Rose Garden in Portland two weeks ago. By those standards, Artest's nine technicals this season aren't that outrageous. Boston's Antoine Walker leads the league with 15 and Pacers teammate Jermaine O'Neal, who will be an Eastern Conference starter in the All-Star game, has 11. But it's Artest who's now getting the attention, especially after his actions Monday night. In the fourth quarter, Artest scored, was fouled and walked toward the Miami bench with his right arm flexed. As he and assistant coach Keith Askins had words, Artest brushed against Riley. They began shouting at each other, and Riley shoved Artest away. Artest was called for a technical. After Miami's Eddie Jones missed the free throw, Artest hit his free throw and backpedaled up the court, holding aloft the index finger of his right hand and the middle finger of his left hand. Afterward, Riley was fuming. "That's how things get out of control," he said. "The league ought to deal with that. That's crazy. I scream like crazy at officials and my players. I never, ever have talked to an opposing player, and I don't want anybody talking to me or coming over to my bench." The NBA, in fact, is looking into it. "Every situation's different, but obviously our people will take a look," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Tuesday. "Typically, we investigate by talking to the principals that were involved in any altercation like that or any incident like that, and we'll make a decision." Artest also was called for a flagrant foul, which will be reviewed by the NBA. He's tied for second in the NBA with three flagrant fouls, one behind teammate Brad Miller, a reserve on this year's All-Star team. Sometimes, Artest's desire gets the better of his judgment. But the Pacers don't want him to change. "I think his emotions are under control. That's all it is, a reputation," star guard Reggie Miller said. "There are a lot of other players who probably had feistier reputations. ... He understands what he's doing, and he does a very valuable job for this team. "Personally, I've always worn a black hat throughout my career, so every little thing he does, I'm behind him 100 percent," he said. |
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