Since joining the Lakers in the summer of 2009, Ron Artest has convinced just about everyone that he’s a changed man. In the span of about a half of a second, he may have erased two years’ worth of goodwill.
The Lakers forward was ejected from Wednesday night’s loss to the Mavericks with just 24.4 seconds remaining. With the Mavericks leading by 11 points, J.J. Barea tried to dribble the ball past Lamar Odom and Artest, and he would have been successful, if not for a flying forearm from Artest.
Watch the play below.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson isn’t very confident that he’ll have Artest available for Game 3 in Dallas.
“It’s uncalled for,” Jackson said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “It’s a good chance he’ll be suspended, but I hope not.”
