Lakers forward Ron Artest believes that many of his fellow NBA players are afraid of all that comes along with playing in New York.

The Knicks are expected to chase top-level free agents, like LeBron James, this coming offseason.

"I think people need to stop being scared and go to New York," Artest said. "They're scared. They're so scared of the pressure and the media. I'm like, pardon my language, but I'm like, --- the media and --- everybody that's putting pressure on you. That's how I would take that.

"That's why I went to St. John's," he continued. "People were like, 'Don't go to St. John's because you don't need the distractions.' I was like, 'I'm going here because I want to go here.' If I wanted to play for the Knicks, I would play because I wanted to play and I wouldn't feel no pressure from anybody."

Artest added that he believes LeBron is one player that could handle the pressures of New York.