'I'm happy Ron Artest got out of the East' - Metta Sandiford-Artest on the biggest compliment he has received from LeBron James

Of all the people affected by the fallout of the infamous "Malice at the Palace," Metta Sandiford-Artest arguably got the worst end of the deal. The former NBA player, known as Ron Artest at the time, was suspended for 86 games and lost nearly $5 million in salary after his leading role in the brawl between the Indiana Pacers and the fans of the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills on November 19, 2004.

Even when the former St. John's star returned to the hardcourt for the Pacers in the 2005-2006 season and played well, averaging 19.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.6 steals per game, the 6'7" forward still didn't feel like himself. 

He even requested a trade from the team midway through the season, a request that was eventually granted in January 2006 when the Pacers sent him to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for All-Star sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic.

It was a moment that eventually led to Artest's fresh start. At the same time, Metta's move to the West allowed several superstars in the East, including a young LeBron James, to heave a sigh of relief.

The biggest compliment

Even as the former Defensive Player of the Year moved on to "Sac-Town," Artest's struggles on and off the court were so profound that he even asked Kings head coach Rick Adelman not to play him anymore as he entertained plans of retiring from the sport. However, Adelman relented, and later on, Metta caught wind of something that LeBron had said about him, which significantly boosted his resolve.

"When I left the East, LeBron gave me the biggest compliment. He said, 'I'm happy Ron Artest left the East,'" Artest said on "Byron Scott's Fast Break." "When he said that, I'm like, 'Man, that's the biggest compliment because I respect him so much like I respect Kobe—a guy I want to compete against.'"

When Artest was at the peak of his powers from 2002 to 2004, he was an elite two-way player that opponents loathed playing against. Built like a linebacker and with a ferocious intensity on defense, "Ron-Ron" was a defensive stalwart who could lock down just about any superstar in the league, including "The King" himself, who, at that time, was still playing his first few seasons in the league.

Kenny Smith helped too

As Artest regained his passion for the game in Sacramento, he helped turn the Kings' campaign around during the 2005-2006 season. With Metta flashing his fine form, the Kings earned a postseason berth against the mighty San Antonio Spurs. Forward's influence and performances did not go unnoticed, with TNT's Kenny Smith crowning Artest as the MVP of the second half of the season.

"We go to the playoffs. We're the best team in the league, you know, the second half of the season. You know Kenny Smith on TNT gave me MVP. He gave me MVP for the second half, which is big for me. It's not an award, but it was big that he said that," Artest shared.

Artest continued to be a defensive menace that caused many headaches for the league's best scorers. He eventually won a championship with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010.