Metta World Peace (born Ronald William Artest, Jr., November 13, 1979) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was known as Ron Artest before legally changing his name in September 2011. World Peace gained a reputation as one of the league's premier defenders as he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004. He was a participant in several controversial on-court incidents, most notably the Pacers–Pistons brawl and is known for his sometimes eccentric and outspoken behavior. Metta World Peace was born Ronald William Artest, Jr., and raised in the Queensbridge projects in Queens, New York. He has two younger brothers, Isaiah and Daniel. He played high school basketball at La Salle Academy and college basketball at St. John's University from 1997–1999. In 1999, he helped the Red Storm to the Elite Eight, losing to Ohio State. He gained fame playing in some of New York City's high profile 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 Warier and The New World Order,
It's either a sign of respect ... or a sign that he wants out of L.A. ... but Los Angeles Lakers star Metta World Peace donned a Vancouver Grizzlies jersey this weekend while rapping in Canada. A… READ MORE >
Metta World Peace can totally school you on the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day -- but Labor Day is still an issue ... as evidenced by his run-in with the world's worst tutor,… READ MORE >
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!!!!!!!!!" READ MORE >
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… READ MORE >
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.… READ MORE >
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… READ MORE >
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… READ MORE >
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… READ MORE >
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… READ MORE >
Ron Artest OFFICIALLY changed his name to Metta World Peace yesterday -- and in much, much bigger news ... he celebrated by stuffing his junk into a tiny pair of shorts.Check out TMZ on TV --… READ MORE >
