KEY POINTS

  • Metta Sandiford-Artest talks about Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals
  • Artest reveals how Phil Jackson asked him to step up
  • Jackson admits that he had to adjust his approach to Artest

Former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson may have already known that Metta Sandiford-Artest would be the key to winning the NBA championship in 2010.

The Lakers’ 2010 NBA Finals run is considered one of the most memorable series in the history of the league.

Not only because it reached the do-or-die Game 7 against the Boston Celtics, but also because of the game-closing three from Sandiford-Artest--known as Ron Artest at the time.

Looking back at his unforgettable NBA Finals moment, Artest vividly recalled what Jackson told him as they left the TD Garden arena after Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals.

According to Artest, Jackson gave him a tap and uttered, “I need you to score,” something that thrilled him heading into Game 7.

“Leaving the [TD] Garden, Phil [Jackson] come to me and say, ‘I need you to score’,” Artest recently said on “Getcha Popcorn Ready with T.O. & Hatch.”

“And I was like, ‘For real?' I was like, ‘I would love to score! Yeah!’”

The 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year hit the crucial three-pointer that sealed the win for the Lakers that night.

“I think [Kobe Bryant] he knew I wanted that shot, or he knew I was ready,” the former Lakers forward shared. “I’m right there the whole time.”

Ron Artest Wants to Be Called Mr. 'Metta World Peace'
Ron Artest Wants to Be Called Mr. 'Metta World Peace' Reuters

Indeed, Jackson pulled off another championship-level tactic when he instructed Artest to contribute to the Lakers’ scoring, and the All-Star forward definitely delivered.

However, “The Zen Master” also once admitted that it took him a while before he learned how to manage a player like Artest.

In his book “Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success,” Jackson revealed that Artest thought he was “picking” on him when he was trying to give him some advice on his shooting.

“Why are you always picking on me?” Artest asked Jackson on the book (via Los Angeles Times ).

“I didn’t know I was picking on you,” Jackson replied. “I’m just trying to help you along.”

“After that incident, I realized that the best way to communicate with Ron [Artest] was to coach everything in a positive way--not just with the words I used, but with my gestures and facial expressions as well,” the coach continued. “Eventually, he found out the system and, with the help of Kobe [Bryant] and others, began integrating himself into the team’s DNA.”

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