Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest suffered a concussion and injured his left elbow after falling at his home.
Artest didn't travel with the Lakers to Saturday's game at Sacramento after tripping over a box and falling down a flight of stairs at his home on Christmas night, the team said in a news release.
He was treated at UCLA Medical Center, undergoing a CT scan and receiving stitches in the back of his head and his elbow. A neurologist examined him on Saturday and confirmed he had a concussion, the team said. Artest is day to day.
Artest scored 13 points and fouled out while guarding LeBron James in the Lakers' 102-87 loss to Cleveland earlier Friday. Artest is averaging 12.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in his first season with Los Angeles after signing as a free agent.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson allowed his players to stay home with their families on Christmas night, apparently getting permission from the NBA to fly to Sacramento on Saturday morning.
Asked his interpretation of Artest's injury before the Lakers' 112-103 win against the Kings in double overtime, Jackson responded, "What do you mean, 'What's my interpretation?' What's that supposed to mean?
"Let me see, my interpretation is that an accident happened, he fell down, he ended up in the hospital, and he came out with some stitches. Other than that, I can't add anything to it."
Los Angeles began a stretch with four games in five days on Christmas, culminating in a home game against Golden State on Tuesday.
"What I was telling the team is that he brings a certain physical presence to our game," Jackson said. "And we'll miss that part of his game."
Credit- ESPN
So First he admits he drank during half time fo games. Now he falls down a flight of stairs in his house after "Tripping over a box." So whats next for this i mean really
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I think hes just being abused by women.....i know those stories are used when a woman is getting abused....next he will have a black eye after falling into a door knob
-- Edited by The Freak Captain Obvious on Sunday 27th of December 2009 05:03:51 PM
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Artest is a personality! The Lakers are a circus out here... Between Kobe, Lamar marrying a Kardashian, Artest being a nut job, and Sasha dating Sharapova they should make their own reality show
He gets paid so much cause hes one of the best defenders in the league and can step up and make a shot when he needs to. He's pretty much filling in Ariza's spot as a 3rd or 4th option and a guy who can defend the other teams best player
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True he causes a lot of trouble baja. And I think we can all agree we really wouldn't want him on our team but the fact that the guy can do things teams need that not alot of people are really good at is a big thing even if he is a cancer to your team
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Ron Artest is a g. Ron is what I was hoping might happen to the Lakers. I can just see him taking the last shot in the playoffs and missing, thus pissing off Kobe, and causing friction in the lockeroom. THis could happen to anyone....
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