I don't think Artest was giving him respect. I think Ron was just saying what the voices in his head were telling him to avoid explaining why he punched Knight in the face.
I actually think he was giving him false respect to cover up his deed and make it seem like the whole thing was just a couple tough guys tussling as opposed to a ripped SF head locking a 20 year old 180 lb PG. If I would have been in attendance, I would have chucked a water bottle at him and then run for the parking lot.
He has the tools to be awesome defensively. Great movement, heaps of length. There are only a few people in the league flat out faster than him so he won't get lost too easily. Now he just needs to work on the the headspace.
