Kind of.



Metta realized his mistake, deleted the tweet, and replaced it with, "Happy memorial day ... I was still sleep:))) Bout to fire up the grill.. Shout out to the veterans!!!!!!!!!"

Minutes after the Los Angeles Lakers went down to the Denver Nuggets ... Metta World Peace's evening was just beginning ... at a fancy Hollywood nightclub.

MWP -- who's still suspended for elbowing OKC player James Harden -- rolled up to Avalon nightclub around 10:30 PM last night ... right around the same time the rest of his Lakers teammates were hitting the showers.

Mr. Peace was seen leaving the establishment shortly after midnight.

Metta -- formerly known as Ron Artest -- has been enjoying his time off. Earlier this week he appeared on "Conan" ... and admitted, "The elbow was too much and I deserved the suspension."

MWP is expected to rejoin his teammates if the Denver series goes to a Game 7 or when the next series begins -- but until then, might as well enjoy the break ... right?

Metta World Peace is accused of shorting a former employee on pay day ... according to a new lawsuit filed by the woman.

TMZ obtained a copy of the suit filed by Rebecca Cha ... Friday in L.A. County Superior Court -- and in the documents she claims MWP, formerly Ron Artest, failed to pay her minimum wage for the hours she worked.

In the suit she also alleges the Los Angeles Lakers star did not pay her for all the hours she worked. However, Cha never mentions what exactly she did for Metta while working for him -- or how much she is allegedly owed.

Cha is suing for the unpaid salary, damages and attorney's fees.

Metta's people haven't gotten back to us yet with a comment on the lawsuit.

Metta World Peace says his childhood hero Michael Jordan left the NBA players high and dry in the never-ending lockout drama -- by forgetting he was once one of them ... and acting like every other stubborn owner.

Jordan -- the Charlotte Bobcats' big cheese -- is among a group of NBA owners who are taking a hard line with the players in the lockout negotiations.

According to MWP, the players don't hate His Airness ... they just feel like, "he didn't support us when we most needed him."

Metta World Peace is taking his aspiring comedy career VERY seriously -- and TMZ has learned he's even enrolled in a stand-up "boot camp" to hone his skills during the NBA lockout.

MWP made his comedy debut a few months ago ... and has another big show scheduled at the Planet Hollywood in Vegas later this month.

But sources close to the basketball star tell us he is dedicated to making improvements -- and has joined the "Laff Mobb " comedy group in L.A. ... which claims its worked with HUGE comics in the past, like Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker and even Dave Chappelle.

Metta's big Vegas show is set for Oct. 28.

Phil Jackson has one word for concerned Laker fans ... chill -- because the former coach says there's no way Kobe Bryant will miss a single NBA game if he plays overseas.

Phil was flying out of LAX when he talked about the possibility of the Black Mamba hooping in Italy during the cursed lockout -- and in his classic, laid back style ... said, "He won't miss any games."

Phil also talked about Ron Artest Metta World Peace ... and solved America's economic crisis. Not really, but you get the feeling he could. Om ... 

Call him Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, Mr. Peace -- or just ... First Guy Voted Off "Dancing With the Stars."

The Los Angeles Lakers star lost with grace -- unlike his Cha cha -- and tipped his hat to "Jerry Maguire" on his way out the door Tuesday night.

Ron Ron was joined by Nancy Grace in the bottom two.

Yeah, we know ... they were both on TMZ Live. Coincidence.

Goodbye forever, Ron Artest -- TMZ has learned, the Lakers star is now legally "Metta World Peace."

It became official less than five minutes ago -- when an L.A. judge finally granted Metta's name change petition ... more than three months after Mr. World Peace decided to undergo an identity switch.

Good thing there's an NBA lockout -- because now there's plenty of time for the Lakers to crank out some new jerseys. So Metta.

Ron Artest will remain Ron Artest for at least 3 more weeks, because a judge just ruled there will be no Metta World Peace until Ronnie clears up his outstanding traffic ticket warrants.

Ron's name change petition went before a judge this AM, but hizzoner said he would not grant Ron's request because Ron is a scofflaw. 

The new hearing is set for September 16.  We're guessing Ron has the cash.

Ron Artest enjoyed what could be his last weekend in Las Vegas as Ron Artest -- partying it up at at Chateau Nightclub & Gardens at Paris Las Vegas last night.

Ron Ron's trip wasn't all about clubbin' -- he hit up a Celine Dion show and tweeted how it made him and his boys cry. Street cred ... gone.

Ron Artest is a shameless self-promoter -- because over the last month, he had an L.A. newspaper print FOUR items about his new name ... and it could change the way he's identified forever.

Long story short -- anyone looking to officially change their name in the State of California has to get a public declaration of the name change PRINTED in a local newspaper 4 times -- once a week, 4 weeks in a row. 

On July 19th, Ron's LAST declaration to become Metta World Peace was published in the L.A. Daily Commerce -- but the name change won't become official until August 26th ... when a judge is scheduled to sign the order.

Which means you have approximately four weeks to sell your Ron Artest jerseys.