Artest reveals the secret to guarding Durant

In two games against the world champion Los Angeles Lakers this season, Thunder All-Star forward Kevin Durant is a shooting a combined 36.4 percent (16 for 44) from the field and 9.1 percent (1 for 11) from 3-point range. In last year’s playoff series against the Lakers, Durant shot 35.0 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from 3-point range.

Every time, Ron Artest has been the primary defender against Durant. And every time, Artest has been asked how he defends the league scoring champ so successfully.

“I give the same answer. You just need to go review the tape,” Artest said after Sunday’s 90-87 victory over the Thunder inside Oklahoma City Arena. “I just try to play hard, man.”

A mischievous Artest then had a playful thought and politely asked a team official to fetch his game shoes. Artest endorses the new BALL’N shoe line and his signature model is due out in October.

“It’s not me. It’s the shoes,” Artest said with a smile, holding up one shoe so television cameras could zoom in. “It’s totally not me. He (Durant) is a good player, but without these shoes I don’t know what I’d do.”