Lakers forward Ron Artest isn't worried about recent comments made by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Cuban said earlier this week that Artest could be bad for the Lakers, who are attempting to defend the NBA title they won in June.

"I talked to Kobe [Bryant] about it," Artest told the Los Angeles Times. "He said that's what happens when you're a Laker."

In an ESPN radio interview in Dallas, Cuban said: "Could you imagine? Ron Artest has got the ball and Kobe's standing there, 'Throw me the ball.' Thank you, Ron Artest."