[Saba Sports News] Even Metta Sandiford-Artest, once known as Ron Artest, is stepping up to offer guidance to Draymond Green, whose recent actions have raised concerns. The retired NBA All-Star expressed his willingness to talk with Green, who is currently facing an indefinite suspension from the NBA. Sandiford-Artest, acknowledging Green’s status as a winner, expressed his hope to connect with Green, stressing the importance of finishing his career on a strong note.
“I hope I’m able to reach out to him,” said Sandiford-Artest of Green. “I hope he’s able to reach out to me and chat a little bit. He’s a winner, I don’t want to see him tarnished … Hopefully, Draymond is OK. Hopefully, he can finish off his career strong.”
Sandiford-Artest, also known as Metta World Peace during his playing days, shares notable similarities with Green. Both were known for their intense, defensive playstyle and sometimes struggled with emotional control on the court. Sandiford-Artest’s career was marked by significant suspensions, including an 86-game ban following the 2004 “Malice at the Palace” brawl and a seven-game suspension in 2012 for an incident involving James Harden.
However, Sandiford-Artest showed considerable growth over his career, eventually becoming an NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and serving as a respected veteran in the league. At 33 years old and in his 12th NBA season, Green’s lack of similar maturity is a concern not only for former players like Sandiford-Artest but also for his current NBA peers.