SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Five days after his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence, Ron Artest said he'd stumbled as a father and husband -- and the Sacramento Kings announced they would let the volatile player return to the team.
"First, I want to apologize to my wife, to my family," Artest said Saturday.
He then lowered his head and fought back tears for nearly a minute before continuing. "I want to apologize to the Kings, to my teammates, to the NBA, everybody."
"I definitely want to apologize for my behavior even to the ... whole NBA, all the players, because the league is doing so well right now ... and Ron Artest once again is in the media for something other than basketball and I apologize."
--Ron Artest
The Kings had excused Artest indefinitely Tuesday from all team activities, one day after he was arrested at his home in a Sacramento suburb. A woman called 911 and said she had been assaulted, and a police report said Artest had slapped the woman's face and grabbed her repeatedly, causing visible injuries on her hand and leg.
At the hastily called news conference to announce Artest would play Sunday against the Denver Nuggets, Artest promised to begin volunteering with domestic violence groups in Sacramento and said he would work to repair his personal life.
"I definitely stumbled by what happened with my family, and I took a step back as being a father and a husband, and I'm looking forward to the day when I can make that right," he said.
Professionally, Artest also said he was sorry for once again giving the NBA a black eye.
"I definitely want to apologize for my behavior even to the ... whole NBA, all the players, because the league is doing so well right now ... and Ron Artest once again is in the media for something other than basketball and I apologize."
Artest is best known as the central figure in the 2004 brawl between Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans. He received a 73-game suspension and lost almost $5 million in salary for jumping into the stands and slugging it out with the public.
Artest and teammate Stephen Jackson were sentenced to one year of probation and 60 hours of community service after pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault charges stemming from the 2004 brawl.
In January, Artest was released from that probation.
Geoff Petrie, the Kings' president of basketball operations, said he deliberated for five days before deciding to allow Artest to return to the team after the latest incident.
"Obviously, the events of this last Monday remain a very, very serious issue going forward," Petrie said. "However at this point in time and place we feel it's important for Ron to come back and participate and rejoin the team and start playing again."
Petrie did not say what would happen if Artest is formally charged with a crime or convicted.
"Fundamental to our decision, really, to initiate Ron's return to the team, is based on the principle, the underlying principle, that the presumption of innocence still stands -- not just for Ron, but for all of us."
Artest faces a March 22 arraignment. He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and using force or violence to prevent a woman from reporting a crime. He was released later the same day after posting a $50,000 bond.
Although he named NBA Commissioner David Stern several times in his apology, he said he has not spoken to the commissioner since he was arrested.
In the two games while Artest was banished, Sacramento beat the Indiana Pacers and lost to the San Antonio Spurs. The Kings began the weekend just one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Artest, acquired 14 months ago in a trade with Indiana, is the Kings' second-leading scorer. He averages 18.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
Artest described his five-day absence as a tough time, but one he used to clear his head and "to breath a little."
Asked if the latest incident would be a distraction on the court, Artest said he doubted his play would be affected.
"That's not a problem," Artest said. "The hardest problem is everything else. Basketball, that's easy."
