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Reading: NBA Insider Claims LeBron James Used To Be Physically Intimidated By Ron Artest
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > NBA Insider Claims LeBron James Used To Be Physically Intimidated By Ron Artest

NBA Insider Claims LeBron James Used To Be Physically Intimidated By Ron Artest

An NBA Insider who's closely followed LeBron James' career claims he was afraid of Ron Artest's defense early in his career.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Aug 2, 2023
3 Min Read
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Credit: Fadeaway World

• Brian Windhorst has said LeBron James would be ‘physically intimidated’ by Ron Artest

• The man now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest is considered among the best defenders of his generation 

• Windhorst closely covered James during his time in Cleveland

The NBA has seen its fair share of defensive pests emerge over its 77-year history, but modern defensive pests are a little different. Players that could effectively guard shooters and perimeter players are a necessity nowadays and have forced defenders to be more versatile than they used to be. 

Ron Artest or Metta Sandiford-Artest, is a former Defensive Player of the Year and would terrorize opposing wings in matchups. His defense was so proficient that Brian Windhorst claims he was one of the only players that would physically intimidate LeBron James early in his career.

“Ron Artest is probably the only player, or one of the very few that I saw physically intimidate LeBron James during his career.”

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LeBron averages 26.9 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.7 rebounds on 49% shooting against Ron Artest. He’s also won 13 out of the 21 games the pair went head-to-head on. James may still have been dropping buckets on Artest, but that doesn’t change the fact that it could be a matchup he was concerned about at the time. 


LeBron James Has Rarely Been Physically Dominated On The Court 

The truth of the matter is that LeBron James is not really a player that opponents have ever been able to physically dominate. There are defenders that have gotten into his head, like DeShawn Stevenson, Shawn Marion, and Jason Terry during the 2011 Finals, but nobody could claim a physical advantage over him.

The closest James has come to being overpowered was in the 2014 Finals against Kawhi Leonard, but even that is a matchup James has gotten used to by now. LBJ was standing tall when the likes of Kevin Garnett were trying to overpower him. 

To say any player has physically intimidated LeBron is interesting because he rarely lets it show on the court. 

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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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