My favorite Artest quote of all time, when he first appeared as a Rocket... (paraphrasing here) Reporter: "Ron, why did you choose 96 for your number? What is the significance?" RA: "They wouldn't let me have 69."
Still remains my favorite trade / acquisition since following the Rockets in 2007 off-season. Didn't realize how good Harden was and Dwight Howard was exciting, but that was a high and low type of race with all the info coming out that he was not choosing us etc. So more relieved than being blind-sided by this acquisition of a guy I really loved and just never thought could end up on "my" team. The only year that truly felt we were going to win it all. Even more so than 17-18 given the Warriors untouchable status by referees (more so than 90s MJ) and Harden's play-offs track record. Artest gave us that edge and inspired, instilled in me a feeling of nobody can F*** with this team.
Year before, Rockets won 22 straight games with Luther Head getting major minutes. Had to feel great about adding Artest to the core. All in all, the venerable Von Wafer preserved the season after Tmac went down. A bit of 3 point bombing with Artest'ian mojo, they came to play. Too bad T-Macrofacture surgery couldnt get this punk a** into the mix. Artest was a perfect piece to the puzzle. But oh well, interesting times
Even with all of that, I believe wholeheartedly if you replace Wafer even with this year's Cam Whitmore, we beat the Lakers and go on to win the trophy! Wafer wasn't giving us jack **** in the play-offs.
wished Artest played more than 1 season for the Rockets Really enjoyed him and he liked it here as well Same goes with Sura
