Los Angeles , California ( CNN ) -- NBA player Ron Artest , who gained infamy in 2004 when he jumped into the stands and punched a fan during a game-stopping brawl between fans and players , is seeking public redemption by raffling off his new NBA championship ring for charity . The proceeds , which he hopes will exceed $ 1 millon , will be used to fund mental health services for youths who ca n't afford the counseling . Artest became a poster boy for NBA bad behavoir after the 2004 melee , which resulted in his being suspended for 73 games , amounting to a loss of about $ 6 million in salary , he said . Artest was then playing with the Indiana Pacers , against the home team Detroit Pistons . Upon his return to the NBA , Artest bounced around from the Sacramento Kings to the Houston Rockets and eventually landing with the Los Angeles Lakers , which won the NBA championship last season . It was during the victory celebration that Artest publicly credited a mental health professional with turning his life around , and now he wants to further public acceptance for people in need of mental health care . His court-order anger management therapy transformed him , he said . `` A great psychologist made me reach deep , deep into my lies , deep , deep into my vices . Then I had to tell my wife everything . That totally changed my life , '' Artest said , who 's a father of four . As one of the league 's premier defenders , Artest made few excuses for his admittedly aggressive behavior , but then a secret slipped out . In front of the largest global TV audience ever for an NBA final game , Artest surprised viewers with an announcement : `` I want to thank my psychiatrist . '' With those words , he opened up his personal life , and as a sports celebrity , he took a step toward destigmatizing mental health care , observed Rep. Grace Napolitano , D-California . Napolitano enlisted the help of the NBA star to push the Mental Health in Schools Act , which would provide $ 200 million in funding for on-site counseling for students with mental health issues . Artest is also an aspiring rapper . In a recent CNN interview , he revealed that while he publicly thanked a psychiatrist , he actually sees a psychologist . `` I did n't know the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist , '' he said . `` Having someone to talk to is very important . And there 's no shame in asking for help , '' Artest said . When he was 13 , his parents split up . `` As a kid , I had a bad temper , '' Artest said . `` As an adult , I was a bad father , and I had to speak to somebody about that . '' Artest kicked off his online raffle Wednesday night with a scheduled appearance on CNN 's `` Larry King Live . '' Wealthy celebrities have offered to buy his ring outright , but Artest wanted all fans to have a chance at winning his ring . So he decided to hold an online raffle in which all bidders will enjoy a fair shot at the ring . He and his teammates received their rings in a ceremony Tuesday evening before their game against the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles . Artest said he will try not to wear his first and only NBA championship ring , so that the raffle winner will be the first person to put on the diamond-encrusted ring . Watch Larry King Live Monday through Sunday 9pm ET . For the latest from Larry King Live click here .
The NBA bad boy credits a psychologist with turning around his life . Now Ron Artest wants to raise money for youths who ca n't afford mental health care . He and the Los Angeles Lakers just received their championship rings Tuesday . Artest : `` Having someone to talk to is very important ''