Pacers' Artest says he'll still play hard
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-12 09:10

"I wish I was 280," he said Tuesday.

Faced with a phalanx of reporters in the Pacers' locker room before the game, Artest answered questions patiently and seemed resigned to facing similar treatment as he goes around the league.

"It's cool," he said. "Things happen in life and you move on. That's the way you have to go about it. It'll be fun playing. Playing with your teammates, playing against the other All-Stars, that's going to be fun. I'm ready to go."

Artest was greeted by a smattering of boos from the small crowd at Continental Airlines Arena, and his first points, on an 18-foot jumper a few minutes into the game brought the same response.