The ultimate competitor Metta World Peace is an American-born former professional basketball player who played with six diverse teams of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The NBA champion had a whale of a time since his college days as he seized the attention of the folks and coaches with his versatile gameplay.
As he commenced his pursuit in 1999 and put an end in 2017, he undoubtedly gained significance as one of the promising league’s exclusive defenders.
World Peace earned the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, and in the meantime, he was labeled as an NBA All-Star and achieved All-NBA honors.
He and his transition in his name have an intense association; the player was born Ronald William Artest Jr.; he then legally changed his name to Metta World Peace in 2011 and Metta Sandiford-Artest in 2020.
Besides his gameplay, World Peace often stayed highlighted in controversy for his nasty on-court activities and unconventional attitude.
Disclose further intriguing details about the former competitive player, Metta World Peace, beneath.
Also, have a timely peek at the enlightening quick facts illustrated below.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Metta Sandiford-Artest |
| Name Changed | Metta Sandiford-Artest (2020) |
| Birth Date | November 13, 1979 |
| Birth Place | Queens, New York |
| Nick Name | Crazy Pills, Ron-Ron, The Straightjacket |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Unknown |
| Education |
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| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Father’s Name | Ron Artest Sr. |
| Mother’s Name | Sarah Artest |
| Siblings | Seven (Isaiah, Daniel, Walid, Khalik, Angelique, Quanisha, & Shalice Holmes-Taylor) |
| Age | 43 years old |
| Height | 6 feet 7 inches |
| Weight | 118 Kilogram (260 lb) |
| Jersey no. | 37 – Los Angeles Lakes |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Profession | Basketball player |
| NBA Draft | 1999 / Round: 1 / 16th overall pick |
| League | NBA & International |
| Active Years | 1999 – 2017 |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Maya Sandiford-Artest |
| Kids | Four (Ron Artest III, Sadie, Jeron & Diamond) |
| Net Worth | $30 million |
| Position | Small forward |
| Last Played NBA Team | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Social Media | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook |
| Merch | No Malice: My Life in Basketball (Hardcover) |
| Last Update | February, 2023 |
Metta World Peace | Early Life & Family
A productive forward player, Metta Sandiford-Artest was born in Queens, New York, on November 13, 1979. In addition, Artest holds American nationality and follows Christianity.
Further, he was born to his father, Ron Artest Sr., and mother, Sarah Artest.
The player is endowed to have seven siblings, Isaiah, Daniel, Walid, Khalik, Angelique, Quanisha, and Shalice Holmes-Taylor.
The player’s sister, Shalice Holmes Taylor, died of cancer a day before his training camp, and the incident arose as a big distraction during his games.
According to reports, he has anger issues that developed at a young age after his parent’s marriage takedown separated.
His parents decided to separate, but his father resided just a few doors down so that he could catch a glimpse of his son and his day-to-day activities.
World Peace was taken to anger management therapy, and the counselor suggested finding a distraction outlet to overlook the ongoing things around him.
That was the time when a basketball player was born.
Further, he initiated playing basketball, played with his father whenever possible, and somewhat overcame the obstacles of stormy by playing.
He dribbled them off, every phenomenon of his life, the divorce, his sister’s death, everything.
Metta World Peace | Basketball Career
College Career
World Peace attended St. John’s University and played basketball for the college team from 1997 to 1999.
In the meantime, he gave rise to his fame for his summer basketball tournaments Nike Pro City in Manhattan, Hoops in the Sun Tournament at Orchard Beach in The Bronx, and The Dyckman Basketball Tournament in Washington Heights.
Professional Career
NBA Draft & The Journey
Peace was selected with the 16th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 1999 NBA Draft.
During his stint with the Bulls in 1999-2000, he was labeled NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Peace was traded between the 2001-02 season to the Indiana Pacers by the Bulls. In the meantime, he made the 2004 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve and was labeled as the Defensive Player of the Year.
Longest Suspension
The Malice at the Palace happened during the game between the Pacers and Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Michigan; Peace was the crucial part of an altercation.
The Clash included Pacers ‘ Peace, Detroit Pistons’ center player Ben Wallace, Peace’s teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal, and many other players.
As an outcome, the ongoing game stopped with less than a minute remaining.
Later, NBA suspended Peace for the remaining regular-season games and the playoff games. With that said, he missed 86 games, which was the most prolonged suspension for an on-court occurrence in the history of the NBA.
Trade & Betray
In the 2005-06 season, Peace appealed a trade from Indiana Pacers; meanwhile, he was kept on an inactive roster.
His inappropriate decision created a parting between him and his fellow teammate Jermaine O’Neal. The president of the Pacers, Larry Bird, had deemed it a “betrayal” and “disappointment.”
Then, he was traded officially to Sacramento Kings, and Peace located himself in the Kings spot with an incredible performance.
Later in 2008-2009, Peace was traded to the Houston Rockets, and the contract was made official in August 2008.
Winner Takes All
World Peace was signed with Los Angeles Lakers in July 2009.
He hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer after picking a last-second offensive rebound in Game 5 of the 2010 Western Conference Finals.
Metta Peace World won his first championship ring with Los Angeles Lakers. In April 2011, he earned the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.
Other Teams
World Peace signed two year deal with New York Knicks in July 2013, and the Knicks waived him after the team bought out his agreement in February 2014.
In August 2014, World Peace took off to China and signed with the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Then, he joined Pallacanestro Cantù of Italy for the 2014-15 Lega Basket Seria A season.
Metta World Peace – Homecoming
After revolving around overseas, World Peace returned to his country and joined for a second stint with Los Angeles Lakers in September 2015.
In September 2016, he re-signed with the Lakers, and he logged a team-leading score of 18 points which helped the team to retain their longest winning streak.
What’s More
World Peace joined the New Orleans Gators of the Global Mixed Gender Basketball League during his offseason in 2017.
Then, he signed a one-day agreement with the San Diego Kings of the American Basketball Association in 2019.
Grants & Honors
- NBA champion (2013)
- Earned NBA All-Star (2004)
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2004)
- Two times NBA All-Defensive First Team (2004, 2006)
- Two times NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2003, 2009)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2000)
- First-team All-Big East (1999)
- Second team Parade All American (1997)
- McDonald’s All American (1997)
Coaching Career
In 2017-18, World Peace was administered as a player development coach for the South Bay Lakers.
Later, in the 2018 offseason, he partook in 3×3 basketball with the BIG3.
Net Worth & Salary
The celebrated former player, Metta World Peace, had a net worth of $30 Million.
Addressing his past salary, he earned $1,551,659 with Los Angeles Lakers in 2016-17 and accumulated $1,499,187 with the Lakers in the 2015-16 season.
In 2014-15, he earned $250,000 with New York Knicks, and his salary in 2013-14 with the Knicks was $1,590,000.
During the 2010-11 stint, he amassed $6,322,320, and in 2009-10, he earned $5,854,000 Lakers.
In 2008-2009, his estimated salary with Houston Rockets was $7,400,000, and in the 2005-06 season with Indiana Pacers, he earned $6,842,105.
World Peace earned $1,160,760 in 2000-01 with Chicago Bulls, and in 1999-00, his initial salary with the first played team, the Bulls, was $1,079,760.
Body Features
Metta World Peace was born on November 13, 1979, and according to his birth date, he is 43 years old.
About Physical Stats, he stands at a tall height of 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), and his body weight is around 260 lb (118 kg).
Social Media Presence
Who’s Metta World Peace’s Wife?
The fine-looking athlete has an exquisite love diary filled with twists and turns.
World Peace and a beautiful Kimsha Hatfield initiated their relationship at their teen level when he was 15 and Kimsha was 14.
Kimsha was a cast member on the TV reality show, Basketball Wives: LA, which was broadcasted on VH1.
Happiness knew no bounds when the couple had their first child, Sadie, in 1997. Additionally, they expanded the number; they together have three kids, Sadie, Ron III, and Diamond.
His son, Ron III, is also a professional basketball player.
The couple got married finally in June 2003, and after finishing some life’s journey together, they divorced in 2009.
Interestingly, World Peace has become a grandfather after welcoming Sadie’s first eldest daughter.
Above & Beyond
Apart from Kimsha, World Peace had another beautiful girlfriend, Jennifer Palma.
After their meet-up in high school, the couple began their relationship, and they share a son, Jeron, a high school player.
In May 2020, Metta World Peace declared that he had legally changed his name to Metta Sandiford-Artest.
The player’s name combines his second wife Maya Sandiford’s last name, who got married in 2018. His current wife, Maya Sandiford, is a Korean-Canadian model.
Media Presence
Television
World Peace developed and produced his reality show, They Call Me Crazy, in co-occurrence with E1 Entertainment and Tijuana Entertainment in April 2010.
Also, he became part of the line-up for the reality show “Dancing with Stars” in its thirteenth season.
World Peace made his appearance in October 2012 on a game show, Figure It Out, as a panelist on the American television channel Nickelodeon.
Furthermore, he appeared in an episode of Spike’s Lip Sync Battle against actor Skylar Astin in June 2017. He attempted Insane by Cypress Hill and Roar by Katy Perry.
He then appeared in the first American edition of Celebrity Big Brother in January 2018.
Metta World Peace – Founder of Media Group
The player founded the Artest Media Group in 2010. And the brand management company’s clients include renowned music artists and music producers.
Rap Album
World Peace released a rap album titled My World in October 2006. His album featured guest artists, Juvenile, Mike Jones, and P. Diddy.
Advocacy
World Peace partook in advocacy relating to Mental Health issues. Following this, he chose to donate some or all of his salary generated from the 2011-12 NBA season to the mental health awareness charities.
Legal Affairs
World Peace drank Hennessey cognac in the locker room during the halftime match against the Chicago Bulls in 2009.
Then, he wore a bathrobe over his Indiana Pacers practice uniform, which he confessed as a “symbolic reminder to take it easy.”
In 2003, he destroyed a TV camera at Madison Square Garden and was suspended for three games.
Again, he has a conflict with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley and was suspended for four games in the same year.
In 2007, World Peace was sentenced to 20 days for domestic violence. Then, he was obliged to abandon ownership of his dog, a Great Dane, for malnutrition and failure.
Controversy
In April 2012, World Peace elbowed James Harden in the head while rejoicing a dunk. Thus, he got a flagrant foul two and was eventually rejected.
Consequently, Harden was found to have endured a concussion aftermath.
In the 2008-09 season with Houston Rockets, World Peace was ejected after a hard foul on Pau Gasol, who was striving to dunk.
FAQs
Who were Metta World Peace’s teammates during youth?
World Peace teamed up with future NBA players Elton Brand and Lamar Odom in Amateur Athletic Union.
Why did the New York native change his name to Metta World Peace?
The player officially changed his name to Metta World Peace to inspire and bring youth together from all over the world.
He chose Metta as a first name because he says it’s a traditional Buddhist word that refers to love, kindness, and friendliness towards everyone.
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