Lakers: Artest Injured In Fall At Home

LOS ANGELES — 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' game against the Kings, 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."

Comments

[SFBunkSurf]

02:58 PM on 12/28/2009

Karma. Artest will never live that out...

[edwoodjr]

01:51 PM on 12/28/2009

Probably a reporter's reference to his claim he used to drink during half time as part of the Bulls; even to the point of going to the liquor store outside the United Center and buying conac.

[Angelina247]

03:27 AM on 12/28/2009

I'll bet you a dollar, Artest was a little (or a lot) sloshed when he tripped and fell. I agree, he will be gone by the end of next year.

[TheWanderer]

06:06 PM on 12/27/2009

Ron Artest INJURED in FALL in his HOME? It all sound EERILY close to another recent injury to a MAJOR sports figure.

[zombywulf]

01:44 PM on 12/27/2009

Was a 5-iron involved??

[CaliTLC]

01:54 AM on 12/27/2009

Was Henny there with him?

[kf40]

01:16 AM on 12/27/2009

Still, ya gotta love Phil Jackson's response to that stoopid question. Well, maybe Tiger Woods' wife came over and got his wife to bushwhack him... Sports reporters crack me up.

[RedWhiteandBlueState]

11:16 PM on 12/26/2009

Ron-Ron is straight C-R-A-Z-Y. I love his story of playing street ball, watching someone get killed with a table leg over a foul call and then continuing on with the game, as if nothing happened.

I will never understand why the Lakers brought him in. He is a time bomb. They just won a ring without his strong presence - negative or positive - I understand keeping your enemies close but I say they will not win a ring with him and he will be gone next year.