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After reversing field from a trade request to wanting to stay in Indianapolis, Ron Artest is trying to make amends with his teammates.
He talked with CEO Donnie Walsh and spoke with Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal, the Indianapolis Star reported. Artest called other players as well but wasn't able to reach them, and planned to call coach Rick Carlisle on Sunday night.
While teammates have been publically critical of Artest, the forward doesn't blame them.
"Under the circumstances, I'd be pretty mad at me, too," he told the paper. "I'm mad at myself anyway. Going about things like I did, it's not easy to recover.
"But I'd love to play for the Pacers' organization right now."
O'Neal, the acknowledged leader among the players, isn't interested.
"We talked as a team and we feel like we need to move on," O'Neal told the Star. "As I've been saying, the business relationship is over."
Artest would not divulge the nature of his conversation with O'Neal but regretted not talking to him earlier.
"I should have gone to him with any issues before [speaking to the media]," Artest told the paper.
At the time of his trade request, Artest thought he was "doing what was best for the team." Now Arest is remorseful.
"I know guys like Sarunas [Jasikevicius] said they're a better team without me, but I still have guys like Stephen Jackson, who wants me to come back and play," Artest told the paper. "I don't know who else. But I would love to come back and play, and any problems I have, prove I can put those problems aside."
Artest said he was unsure if there's a realistic chance of staying with the Pacers.
"I think Donnie's going to do the best thing for the team," he said. "I'm just going to do whatever he says. Donnie's the leader and I appreciate the opportunity he's given me. He pretty much knows what's best."
Source: AP
He talked with CEO Donnie Walsh and spoke with Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal, the Indianapolis Star reported. Artest called other players as well but wasn't able to reach them, and planned to call coach Rick Carlisle on Sunday night.
While teammates have been publically critical of Artest, the forward doesn't blame them.
"Under the circumstances, I'd be pretty mad at me, too," he told the paper. "I'm mad at myself anyway. Going about things like I did, it's not easy to recover.
"But I'd love to play for the Pacers' organization right now."
O'Neal, the acknowledged leader among the players, isn't interested.
"We talked as a team and we feel like we need to move on," O'Neal told the Star. "As I've been saying, the business relationship is over."
Artest would not divulge the nature of his conversation with O'Neal but regretted not talking to him earlier.
"I should have gone to him with any issues before [speaking to the media]," Artest told the paper.
At the time of his trade request, Artest thought he was "doing what was best for the team." Now Arest is remorseful.
"I know guys like Sarunas [Jasikevicius] said they're a better team without me, but I still have guys like Stephen Jackson, who wants me to come back and play," Artest told the paper. "I don't know who else. But I would love to come back and play, and any problems I have, prove I can put those problems aside."
Artest said he was unsure if there's a realistic chance of staying with the Pacers.
"I think Donnie's going to do the best thing for the team," he said. "I'm just going to do whatever he says. Donnie's the leader and I appreciate the opportunity he's given me. He pretty much knows what's best."
Source: AP