That was not one of those Oscar-nominated animated figures on the television screen Monday night. That was a living, breathing, sweating human being in that Kings jersey – and don't laugh out loud yet – swatting balls loose, jostling for position, leaning, agitating, defending.

Wow. How long has it been?

When was Ron Artest traded?

The Kings need Andres Nocioni for his bruising physicality, but their fans need him just as much to soothe their own sagging psyche.

He's fun. He's passionate. He cares. He sprints on and off the court, and most notably, performs as if he has actually read the fine print in the collective bargaining agreement. And nowhere in the language of the contract does it say that putting a body on an opponent violates the spirit of the agreement.

"It's just my way," Nocioni says simply, as if that explains everything. "I'm the kind of guy who likes to play with energy, with a lot of contact. With my energy, sometimes I can (overcome) my mistakes."

Of the seven veterans acquired in the Kings' recent massive shake-up, Nocioni, 29, is the one most likely to remain when the other newcomers' contracts expire this summer and Geoff Petrie continues shopping for rookies and draft choices.

"He's a scrapper," said Kings special assistant Pete Carril, "and he's tough. And, oh boy, we needed that."

Artest. Jimmy Jackson. Jon Barry. A young Bobby Jackson and Doug Christie. Coachie's right. There haven't been too many tough-guy characters around here lately.

According to Carril, he and Petrie first noticed the superbly conditioned Nocioni during the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis. On an Argentine team that featured a scrawny Manu Ginobili and shattered the USA's decade-long win streak in international competition, Nocioni passed the ball. He rebounded. He ran the floor. He converted open jumpers. He finished on the break. He defended.

"I don't do one thing great," said the wide-bodied, 6-foot-7, 225 pound forward, "but I try to do everything."

Two summers later, Argentina captured the gold medal at the Athens Olympics, prompting celebrations back home and leading to NBA offers for several players. The undrafted Nocioni signed with the Chicago Bulls, emerging and remaining a fan favorite.

It isn't hard to figure out why. Shortly after entering the game against New Orleans, he elicited surprised murmurs by diving for a loose ball. A subsequent flurry that included two three-pointers, a baseline drive and spin move to elude Tyson Chandler earned him sustained applause. But when he was assigned to defend David West and stuck close enough to detect the All-Star's favorite mouthwash, well, even those on press row wondered aloud: When was the last time … ?

Right. Artest. A less-talented Artest. Yet unlike the former Kings star who grew up in Queens, N.Y., Nocioni comes from Santa Fe, a city of approximately 400,000 that reminds him a little bit of Sacramento.

"Wheat, corn," he continued. "We are known for that. I grew up there, playing basketball. Only basketball. I just want to play basketball."

He certainly won't make this easy. Though the emphasis is on developing the younger players, Nocioni already is forcing Kenny Natt to tweak the plan. The Kings' coach already is considering starting Nocioni at small forward and returning Francisco García to his sixth-man role.

Whatever. Wherever. Just get him on the court.

Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208.