Metta World Peace

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Revision as of 07:25, 5 May 2012

Metta World Peace

Peace playing for the Lakers.
No. 15 - Los Angeles Lakers
Small forward / Shooting guard
Personal information
Date of birth: November 13, 1979
Place of birth: Queens, New York
Height: 6 ft 7 in	Weight: 260 lbs
Career information
College: St. John's
NBA Draft: 1999; 1st round / 16th pick Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Debut: 1999 for the Chicago Bulls
Career history
Chicago Bulls (1999-2002) Indiana Pacers (2002-2006) Sacramento Kings (2006-2008) Houston Rockets (2008-2009) Los Angeles Lakers (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
NBA Champion (2010) NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2004) NBA All-Star (2004) All-NBA Third Team (2004) 2× All-Defensive First Team (2004, 2006) 2× All-Defensive Second Team (2003, 2009) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2000) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2011) Haggerty Award (1999)
Metta World Peace at NBA.com

Metta World Peace (born Ronald William Artest, Jr., November 13, 1979) is an American professional basketball Small forward / Shooting guard playing in the NBA for hLos Angeles Lakers.

Artest proved himself in many categories. He was the Sacramento Kings second leading scorer and their top rebounder. He also lead the league in steals most of the season before falling behind Baron Davis late in the season. He has also kept out of trouble. Artest once served an 83 game suspension for hitting fans when playing for the Indiana Pacers. With the Kings he has only gotten in trouble for non-basketball related things. Artest wore his hair in a mohawk for part of the season.

In addition to basketball, Artest is also a rapper.

Early Life

Artest was born and raised in the Queensbridge projects in Queens, New York. He played high school basketball at La Salle Academy. As a teenager, he was teamed with Elton Brand of the Philadelphia 76ers, Brendan Haywood of the Washington Wizards, and Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers on the same AAU team.

College

Artest attended St. John's University, where he played for the St. John's Red Storm. He averaged 13.1 ppg (.445 FG%, .355 3pt%, .589 FT%), 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.20 bpg, and 1.90 spg in 69 games over two seasons at St. Johns, leading the Red Storm to a 50-19 record. In 1999 he helped the St. John's Red Storm to the Elite 8 losing to Ohio State in a classic. He gained fame playing in some of New York City's high profiled summer basketball tournaments at Nike Pro City, Hoops in the Sun at Orchard Beach, Bronx New York and Dyckman Park at Washington Heights, earning himself nicknames such as Tru Warrier and The New World Order, a name he received from Randy Cruz (one of the co-founders of the Hoops In The Sun basketball league at Orchard Beach in the Bronx, New York).

NBA

Chicago Bulls

Artest was selected in the first round (16th pick overall) in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. In the 1999-00 season he was named to the Schick All-Rookie Team. In 2 1/2 seasons with Chicago he averaged 12.5 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 2.9 assist per game, and 2 steals per game.

While playing for the Bulls, Artest was NBA All-Star and NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan's "favorite Bull".

Indiana Pacers

In 2002, Artest was traded by the Bulls to the Indiana Pacers, along with Ron Mercer, Brad Miller, and Kevin Ollie, in exchange for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norman Richardson, and a second-round draft pick. Artest had his best season in the 2003-2004 season. He averaged 18.3 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game. He made the 2004 All-Star Game as a reserve and he was the Defensive Player of the Year.

Pacers-Pistons Brawl

Main Page:Pacers-Pistons Brawl

Artest on the front cover for Sports Illustrated magazine on November 29, 2004.

On November 19, 2004, Artest took center stage in arguably the most infamous brawl in professional basketball history.

The game took place in Auburn Hills, Michigan between Artest's Pacers and the home team Detroit Pistons. The brawl began when Artest fouled Pistons center Ben Wallace as Wallace was putting up a shot. Wallace, upset at being fouled hard when the game was effectively over (the Pacers led 97-82), responded by shoving Artest, leading to an altercation near the scorer's table. Artest walked to the sideline and lay down on the scorer's table. Reacting to Wallace throwing something at Artest, Pistons fan John Green threw a cup of beer at Artest, hitting him. Artest jumped into the front-row seats and confronted a man he incorrectly believed to be responsible which in turn erupted into a brawl between Pistons fans and several of the Pacers. Artest returned to the basketball court, and punched Pistons fan A.J. Shackleford, who was apparently taunting Artest verbally. This fight resulted in the game being stopped with less than a minute remaining. Artest teammates Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson were suspended indefinitely the day after the game, along with Wallace.

On November 21, the NBA announced that Artest would be suspended for the remainder of the season (73 games plus playoff appearances). This is the longest non-drug or betting related suspension in NBA history. Eight other players (four Pacers and four Pistons) received suspensions, without pay, that ranged from one to thirty games in length. Each of the Pacers players involved were levied fines and ordered to do community service. Several fans were also charged and were barred from attending any events at the Palace for life. Artest lost approximately $7 million in salary due to the suspension.

Sacramento Kings

Early in the 2005-06 season, Artest requested a trade from the Indiana Pacers and was put on the team's inactive roster. Artest's call for a trade created a rift between him and his teammates. "We felt betrayed, a little disrespected," teammate Jermaine O'Neal said. As for their basketball relationship, O'Neal said: "The business relationship is over. That's fact." Pacers president Larry Bird said he also felt "betrayed" and "disappointed."

On January 24, 2006, reports from NBA sources confirmed that the Sacramento Kings had agreed to trade Peja Stojaković to the Pacers for Artest. However, before the trade could be completed, many press outlets reported that Artest had informed team management that he did not want to go to Sacramento. According to Artest's agent, his original trade request was only made because he was upset when he heard rumors that the Pacers were going to trade him to Sacramento for Stojaković early in the season. While not denying his agent's story, Artest did deny that he had rejected the trade to Sacramento, saying that he would play anywhere; hence, contradicting earlier press accounts stating Artest was holding up the trade. Given conflicting accounts, it is unclear why the trade was delayed, but it was nevertheless completed on January 25 and Artest was officially sent to the Kings for Stojaković.

Though traded midseason to the Kings franchise, Artest quickly found his place on the team by providing some much needed defense. Though many feared his abrasive personality would be a problem, he worked well with his teammates and then coach Rick Adelman. Since acquiring Artest in late January 2006, the team immediately went on a 14-5 run, the team's best run of the season. The Kings broke .500 and landed the eighth spot in the Western Conference. This prompted ESPN to declare that "Ron Artest has breathed new life in the Sacramento Kings and enhanced their chances of reaching the playoffs for the ninth straight year." Fox Sports proclaimed, "Artest has Kings back in playoff hunt."

He was suspended for Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs following a flagrant foul (elbow to the head) on Manu Ginóbili. The Kings eventually were eliminated from the playoffs in six games.

After the playoffs, Artest offered to donate his entire salary to keep teammate Bonzi Wells with the team, who became a free agent after the 2005-06 NBA season. He even jokingly threatened to kill Wells if he did not re-sign with the Kings. Wells was later picked up by the Houston Rockets and then traded to the New Orleans Hornets for former Sacramento Kings player Bobby Jackson. Artest also offered to donate his salary to retain the services of head coach Rick Adelman, whose contract expired after the same season. Adelman and the Kings did not agree on a contract extension so the two parted ways.

Houston Rockets

On July 29, 2008, it was reported that Artest was to be traded to the Houston Rockets along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. and Sean Singletary for Bobby Jackson, recently drafted forward Donté Greene, a 2009 first-round draft pick, and cash considerations. The deal was made official on August 14, due to Greene's rookie contract signing on July 14. In response to the trade, Yao Ming was generally positive, but commented that "hopefully he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands." In response, Artest said, "This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao’s team, you know. I’m not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto. That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture."

Since then, Artest and Yao have exchanged extensive phone calls. Artest has also said, "Whatever Adelman needs me to do, whether that’s come off the bench, sixth, seventh man, start, I don’t even care. Whatever he needs me to do, I’m 100 percent sure it’s going to work out."

On October 30, 2008, Artest received his first technical as a Houston Rocket, as he raced towards a group of Dallas Mavericks players and then quickly went to Yao Ming who bumped Josh Howard after play stopped. Artest was trying to pull Yao Ming away from the play and to the foul line, but contact was made with Maverick players. The TNT broadcast crew felt this technical was not warranted, and was based upon Artest's prior reputation as a feisty player in the league.

On April 30, 2009, Ron Artest helped the Houston Rockets advance past the first round for the first time in 11 seasons.

On May 6, 2009, Ron Artest was ejected in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers after Kobe Bryant committed what was later ruled to be a Flagrant 1 foul, for elbowing. Artest was indignant after having Kobe's forearm jabbed into his throat but finding himself called for the offensive foul. He preceded to give Bryant a piece of his mind after the play and then asked the officials to call the foul on Kobe, which resulted in an ejection by Joey Crawford. The TNT broadcast crew felt this technical was not warranted, and was possibly due to Crawford confusing Artest's protestations that he was elbowed in the throat with a throat slashing motion, which is an automatic ejection.

On May 8, 2009, Artest was again ejected from Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter after a hard foul on Pau Gasol, who was attempting to dunk on a fast-break. Commentators and even Kobe Bryant whom had had an altercation with Artest in Game 2 in which Artest was ejected agreed the flagrant two foul and subsequent ejection was not warranted. True enough, it was determined the next day that the foul was not serious enough to warrant an ejection, and the flagrant two was downgraded.

Los Angeles Lakers

On July 8, 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers signed Ron Artest to a five-year deal worth about $33 million. Artest will wear number 37 in honor of singer Michael Jackson. Jackson's Thriller album was at No. 1 on the charts for 37 straight weeks.

In Game 5 of the 2010 Western Conference Finals, Artest hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer after grabbing a last second offensive rebound. He scored 25 points against the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 and went to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career. In the finals, the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics, four games to three. Artest scored 20 points in the clincher and sank the team's last field goal – a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter – to virtually seal the victory. Afterwards, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson called Artest the most valuable player of Game 7 against the Celtics. He won his first championship ring with the Lakers.

For the 2010–2011 season, Artest switched back to number 15, his college number at St. John’s and the first number he wore in his NBA career.

On April 26, 2011, Artest won the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

Artest changed his name to Metta World Peace during the offseason. He came into training camp for the 2011–12 season out of shape. Consequently, new Lakers coach Mike Brown moved World Peace to a reserve role with reduced playing time. World Peace lamented that Brown's coaching style placed too much emphasis on statistics.

On April 22, 2012, in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, World Peace elbowed James Harden in the head as he was celebrating a dunk. He received a flagrant foul 2 and was immediately ejected. Harden stayed on the floor for several minutes and left the game for evaluation. Harden was later found to have suffered a concussion. After the game, World Peace apologized in front of reporters, claiming that the elbow was "unintentional." On April 24, 2012, World Peace was suspended for seven games, meaning he would miss the Lakers' season finale game against the Sacramento Kings as well as the first few games of the playoffs.

Rapping Career

Artest's debut album, My World

Artest released his debut rap album titled My World on October 31, 2006. Sales of the album have been poor, with reported sales of 343 albums in the first week, while another site estimated at 365.

Controversies

In spite of his abilities, Artest has been the subject of much controversy. During his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, he was subject to criticism for applying for a job at Circuit City, just to get an employee discount. He once attended an Indiana Pacers practice in a bath robe. He was suspended for two games in the early 2004-05 season by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after he allegedly asked for a month off because he was tired from promoting an R&B album for the group Allure on his production label. Artest had also been suspended for three games in 2003 for destroying a television camera in Madison Square Garden, New York City, and for four games for a confrontation with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley in 2003. He has also been suspended several times for flagrant fouls.

At the start of the 2004-05 season, Artest changed his uniform number. In past seasons with Indiana, he had worn the number 23 in tribute to NBA legend Michael Jordan. For the 2004-05 season, he wore the number 91; a tribute to former multiple Defensive Player of the Year Award winner Dennis Rodman, another controversial basketball player from the late 1980s and 1990s. After being suspended for the remainder of the season due to his involvement in the Pacers–Pistons brawl, Artest reverted his number back to the original he wore for the majority of his basketball life, number 15, though he switched to number 93 after being traded to the Sacramento Kings. He wore number 93 with Sacramento because he said it represented the Queensbridge projects where he grew up, with the "9" representing the "Q" in Queens and the "3" representing the "B" in Bridge. Also, the inspiration for Artest choosing 93 as his number was inspired by Souls of Mischief's 1993 album 93 'til Infinity. He has since changed his number to 96 in the Houston Rockets.

In October 2005, Artest gained more attention when he, fully clothed, graced the cover of Penthouse magazine, along with three bikini-clad models.

Legal troubles in Sacramento

According to a Placer County report obtained by the Sacramento Bee, on January 30, 2007, Animal Services officers issued a "pre-seizure" notice to Artest regarding suspicions that a dog at his home in Loomis was not receiving adequate food. On February 5, officers returned and seized Socks, a black female Great Dane, removing her into protective custody with a local veterinarian. The seizure action cited a law that requires animal caretakers to "provide proper sustenance." Artest later sent an email to the Bee, writing "I'm glad to say all problems are solved now, and I'm looking forward to getting my dog back."In March 2007, his dog was released under a foster care agreement after being treated for more than a month. In April 2007, the Placer County District Attorney's Office announced that it would not file charges against Artest over the incident. It also was reported by Placer County Animal Services and by Artest that he agreed to allow Socks to be adopted by a new owner.

On March 5, 2007, Artest was arrested for domestic abuse, and excused from the Sacramento Kings indefinitely by GM Geoff Petrie. On March 10, The Kings announced that Artest would return to his team while his case is being reviewed by the Placer County District Attorney. On May 3, he was sentenced to 20 days in jail and community service, however, Artest did not spend any more time in jail as ten days of the sentence were stayed by the judge and Artest served the other 10 days in a work release program. On July 14, 2007, the NBA decided that Artest would serve a seven game suspension at the beginning of the 2007-08 NBA season for his legal problems.

Endorsements

Artest is the only NBA player endorsed by the German brand k1x.

In 2008, Artest appeared in a video promoting companion animal spaying and neutering for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals entitled "Have the balls to spay and neuter your dog."

Community Service

Artest has been an active contributor in his hometown and in the cities of organizations for which he’s played, working simultaneously in global regions that require urgent humanitarian aid. He joined a contingent of representatives from the NBA Players Association and the Feed the Children program on a goodwill mission to Africa in July, distributing more than one million meals to impoverished areas in Nairobi as part of the NBPA’s “Feeding One Million” campaign. Artest also presented gifts and visited residents at Feed the Children’s Abandoned Baby Center in Kawangware (Kenya), which houses orphaned, ill, and neglected youth … Reunited with the Feed the Children program for a mission to Central America in August, delivering rations and supplies to deprived areas throughout Honduras. He participated in the Roosevelt Family Empowerment Weekend held in New York City in August, teaching a youth basketball clinic and speaking to kids about the virtues of hard work and community involvement. Artest launched a new welfare program in September titled Xcel University, established with the goal of identifying issues facing high-risk students while collaborating with schools and community centers to encourage and reward students who are leading a productive life. He also slated to sponsor the spay and neutering of pitbulls at the Sacramento chapter of the SPCA during the month of November, personally covering all costs for each pet owner.

He will be a spokesman in both the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and Sacramento SPCA Spay & Neuter advertising campaigns, each scheduled to air this fall.

Family

• His younger brother Daniel Artest is also a basketball player
• Artest's father is a bouncer at a grill/bar.
• Artest and his wife Kimsha have four children

NBA Statistics

Regular Season

Playoffs

Discography

External Links

• NBA.com Profile
• Official Site

Categories: NBA Players | College Players (Men) | Players From NYC | Los Angeles Lakers | Houston Rockets | Sacramento Kings | Indiana Pacers | Chicago Bulls | St. John's Red Storm | McDonald's All Americans | Players Who Made An ABA/NBA All Star Game | Players Who Made An NBA All Star Game