By Jeff Lenchiner
Inside Hoops Editor-in-Chief

We met with Ron Artest after he played in an Entertainer's Basketball Classic (EBC) game at Rucker Park in New York City and recorded a quick interview. Posted on August 12, 2002.

InsideHoops.com: Talk to me about playing here in the Entertainer's Basketball Classic at Rucker Park, what keeps you coming back?

Ron Artest: I like to come back because the competition every year stays the same, a lot of the NBA guys come along with myself, so, it's not like you're losing any sort of competition. I like coming out to get my confidence ready for the league.

InsideHoops.com: Do you ever worry about getting hurt out there?

Ron Artest: No, I mean, I play the same way here that I play in the league. When guys try to hurt me in the league, they wind up getting hurt, so I ain't worried about getting hurt.

InsideHoops.com: What do you think about playing out here vs. playing in the NBA, and some of the transitions these players go though?

Ron Artest: I feel when you get in the NBA, you got talent, you're there for a reason, so when some people get in the NBA they get scared to play, so that's why a lot of New Yorkers don't make it, because, a lot of New Yorkers they gotta just play with that confidence and could still go to the NBA, do the same thing they do our here in the park. Because basketball is basketball. But you gotta play a team game. If you know how to play a team game, and you can bring your talent from out here into the league, it shouldn't be a problem.