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Artest vows to put team ahead of temper
The former All-Star and NBA defensive player of the year was averaging 24.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in seven games when his season was cut short. Artest said it was his decision to join the team for the camp and for the Minnesota Summer League which starts on Friday. "He's been waiting a long time to get the uniform back on, and to be a part of the team," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "This is a beginning. We feel it's significant." Carlisle said Artest looks ready to play. "He looks good," Carlisle said. "He's in shape. We know he's worked hard." Artest said he knows he'll face a strong effort from opponents in the summer league. "I'm sure somebody's going to try to make a name for themselves," he said. "I'm going to try to make a name." Artest said he was proud of the way the team played in his absence. The Pacers finished 44-38 and reached the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. "We were a top-eight team," he said. "We finished in the top eight after all that happened to us. The Pacers showed a lot of heart." He feels he owes the Pacers for what happened against the Pistons in one of the worst melees in U.S. sports history. "They all stood by me, and I'm going to do the same for them this year," he said. "I want to play well for my teammates, and I want to win a championship. "It's my job to focus on basketball," he said. "It's my job to put the team first."
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