Top 10 Draft Picks in Sacramento Kings History

Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

#2

Peja Stojakovic – Ron Artest (Metta World Peace)

Peja Stojakovic was drafted with the 14th pick of the 1996 NBA draft out of Serbia. Former Kings President of Basketball Operations, Geoff Petrie, discovered Peja when he was just 17 beginning his PAOK playing days and was amazed at the shooting prowess of the lanky kid.

Peja was 19 at the time he was drafted and did not end up coming to play in the U.S. until the 1998-99 season. He came over in time to be a part of the first year of the Rick Adelman era and would eventually become the face of that era.

Peja did not crack the starting lineup until his third season but took off when he did, averaging over 20 points a game. His 3-point shot was lethal and he once hit 87 3’s in a row in practice. Over his entire career, he nearly averaged 90% from the free-throw line.

When Chris Webber was lost due to a knee injury for most of the 2003-04 season, Peja stepped up and led the team to a 55-27 record while averaging over 24 points per game. During that season, he finished 4th in MVP voting as well and was 2nd team All-NBA.

Peja made the all-star team three times as a member of the Kings, won two All-Star weekend three-point contests and is on numerous all-time lists for the Sacramento Kings franchise:

• Games – 2nd (518)
• Minutes Played – 2nd (17,723)
• Points – 2nd (9,498)
• Field Goals Made – 3rd (3,352)
• 3-Point Field Goals Made – 1st (1,070)
• 3-Point Field Goal % – 10th (.398)
• Free Throw % – 1st (.893)
• Defensive Rebounds – 6th (2,051)
• Steals – 5th (543)
• Win Shares – 1st (59.8)

The only two weaknesses in Peja’s game were his defensive inabilities and propensity for injury. During the 2005-06 season, the Kings traded Peja Stojakovic to the Indiana Pacers for (pre-Metta World Peace) Ron Artest.

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Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Metta World Peace, or the Artest formerly known as Ron-Ron, was everything that Peja was not. Peja was finesse-Ron was power, Peja was a shooter-Ron was the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, Peja could have played soccer-Ron should have played football.

Ron-Ron came to Sacramento surrounded by controversy after the “Malice at the Palace” the previous season in which a fight broke out between several Piston and Pacer players. After the fight was broken up, a fan threw a drink at Artest while he was lying on the scorer’s table and when Artest entered the crowd to retaliate, a brawl erupted between players and fans that spilled onto the court. Artest was suspended for the remainder of the 2004-05 season.

Immediately after the trade and before ever putting on a Kings uniform, Ron stated that the 10-16 Kings would make the playoffs and was criticized for it. However, Artest was true to his word and the team finished 34-22 which was good enough for 4th in the Western Conference.

Although he proved to be injury prone as well, Ron played well for the Kings. He helped cover the defensive inabilities of Kevin Martin and showed that he was an underrated passer, averaging 3.6 assists per game while with the Kings.

And, of course, Ron always played elite defense that the team hasn’t seen since Doug Christie. Prior to the 2008-09 season, Artest was traded to Houston for rookie Donte Greene and former King, Bobby Jackson.

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Peja Stojakovic and Ron Artest’s Combined Statistical Totals

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