Despite Joining Post-Michael Jordan Bulls Team, NBA Champ Sought Odd Jobs to “Stay Out of Trouble”

Landing with the team that Michael Jordan once led would be a dream come true for many. But hardly anyone would take a second job after making it to that team. Metta Sandiford-Artest was a different breed in this sense, and he discusses this in his recent appearance on ‘All Fact No Brakes’.

Artest landed on Bulls in 1999, just a year after Michael Jordan secured the franchise its last championship. But the team was still reaping the advantages of that atmosphere in 1999, as stated by Metta. “We still rode the championship plane… It had, you know, you had your own little sweets. You had a bar,” he said. This came during his appearance on ‘All Fact No Brakes’, where he revealed why, despite these advantages, he was working a second job.

Explaining his reason, Metta stated he “was trying to stay out of trouble”. The ex-NBA star further mentioned during his initial days in the Bulls he would drive to New York, back to Queensbridge, for around 36 hours. “So I was always, like, on the move. And I just needed something to fill my time,” he said on the podcast. The 2010 NBA champ recalled he had around 10 hours in his hands after practice and before sleep.

This vacant time was what sparked the idea of getting a job in Artest’s head. “I worked Highland Park, Circus City,” he disclosed. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Metta’s first year in the league paid him $1.1 million. So it’s evident the financial crisis was not a reason for him to pick the second job.

Artest’s side job in the Circuit City only for a short duration

During his appearance on Podcast P, Artest stated the same reason that he got a second job, as he had nothing to do. With too much time on his hands, he went going to Circuit City all the time just to chill out. However, another reason for his visit to Circuit City was checking out the latest DVDs.

Artest soon realized he was spending too much on DVDs. Not wanting to give up movies, the Bulls rookie opted for the job at Circuit City for an employee’s discount. The news that Artest was working a second job spread like wild fire, and before he could actually reap the benefits of his side quest, he had to quit the job.

“I was there for one-and-a-half days because once it came out in the news, Jerry Krause called me in the office. He was like, ‘Why are you working at Circuit City?'” Metta recalled on Podcast P with Paul George. Even after explaining his reason he the Bulls rookie was told he could not work the job. And thus came an end to Artest’s side quest at the Circuit City.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.