LOS ANGELES: Volatile forward Ron Artest achieved a long-cherished dream when he officially signed a multi-year contract with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

The 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, free agent Artest had agreed terms with the Lakers last week after playing the 2008-09 season with the Houston Rockets.

"This has been a long time coming," Artest, 29, said after being introduced to the media at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo.