Michael Jordan called DEVASTATED 22-year-old Metta Sandiford-Artest after controversial ribcage incident

Metta Sandiford-Artest had a reputation for being a tough basketball player.

Michael Jordan called DEVASTATED 22-year-old Metta Sandiford-Artest after controversial ribcage incident

Metta Sandiford-Artest revealed that Michael Jordan called him after he was devastated for injuring Jordan in a game of pick-up basketball

Metta Sandiford-Artest came into the league in 1999. At that time, the best way to get into shape before a season began was to take part in pick-up basketball games.

He revealed going to one such game and playing against the great Michael Jordan. Only for something controversial to happen between them. While speaking on Podcast P with Paul George, one of the hosts asked him about this incident which blew up in the media.

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The story came out that I punched Michael Jordan. This is in Chicago Tribune. So, when that happened, I'm like 20 years old at the time. So, I'm devastated, I'm like the city's gonna hate me, this is my favorite player. I'm home, staying in the bed, not going to the summertime workouts. I can't move out of my bed. My agent's like why didn't you make it to practice? I was like 'I'm kinda sad like I broke MJ ribs and the story's out there'. So, he had MJ call me. MJ called me 'Hey don't worry about it man, things happen.' I said, 'MJ sorry man I didn't mean to do that'. He actually asked me come back.
Metta Sandiford-Artest revealed

For Metta Sandiford-Artest, injuring a legend is one thing. Then getting a call back from that legend to fix his deflated mindset is another.

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Sandiford-Artest said that he did not punch Michael Jordan during that game of pick-up basketball. Rather, he knew that Jordan should not get the ball. Otherwise he will score anyway. Knowing that, the former champion tried to move the legend’s arm away, only for his elbow to hit him in the ribs.

But the Chicago publication’s story painted him as a villain. It made him feel like he had lost everything. However, Jordan’s phone call helped him get out of that black hole and come back to playing basketball.

Metta Sandiford-Artest went from a villain to an NBA champion

Metta Sandiford-Artest or Ron Artest as he was known back then, came into the league as a defensive powerhouse of a player. However, he did not have the scoring to back up his defensive prowess. Later with the Indiana Pacers, he developed into an All-Star caliber player. But his NBA career came crashing down when the infamous Malice at the Palace took place.

That incident led to a yearlong suspension and then a move out of Indiana once his chemistry with his teammates was fractured. After moving around on a couple of teams, Sandiford-Artest joined the one player he respected, Kobe Bryant, on the Los Angeles Lakers. That mutual respect led to an NBA championship.

Bringing back the respect he had lost and cementing his reputation as a player who played big when the stage demanded it. But he knows that had Michael Jordan not made that call, probably he would have sulked himself out of the league.

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