What happened to Metta World Peace...aka former NBA Star Ron Artest?

He’s had a few different names, but the man originally known as Ron Artest has had an interesting life. He’s best recognized for his time in the NBA, where he was decorated as an excellent defensive player who won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. Metta World Peace (or Metta Sandiford-Artest) has kept busy since his playing days ended. Basketball statistics were sourced from Basketball Reference.

Artest’s roller coaster of a story begins in Queensbridge, New York. He grew up in a project complex with his parents, but had some difficulty controlling his emotions according to a Bleacher Report story. Artest would channel his focus and passion onto basketball. He would play the sport even during chilly New York winters because he loved the game so much.

Artest had a fearlessness about him that older players in New York City marveled at. According to Bleacher Report, they called him the “Ultimate Warrior”, as he competed in the Rucker Summer League as a teenager. He also was a standout star on the AAU circuit. Artest dominated on the court, and also wasn’t afraid to call out teammates.

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St. John’s University had been on the decline for a few years, but knew that Artest’s arrival on campus would help them get back on the college basketball map. His tenacity helped the Red Storm develop an identity that made them one of the best teams in the country. During his sophomore campaign, Artest averaged over two steals per game.

Artest was selected with the 16^th pick in 1999 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, with the idea that he and others could help lead the team into a new era after Michael Jordan’s retirement.

While Artest was a solid performer, Chicago was one of the worst teams in the league, which made it hard for him to get noticed. He was traded to the Indiana Pacers midway through the 2002 season.

On a better team, Artest’s contributions were amplified. He was better than a regular role player, but his defensive acumen and physicality was on display during crucial regular season games and in the postseason. He was named to the All-Star team for the first and only time in his career during the 2003-2004 campaign.

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On a night in November 2004, the trajectory of Artest’s life and career in the NBA would change forever. After an on-court altercation with Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons, a fan threw a cup of beer at Artest.

The burly forward entered the stands to fight the fan, and all heck broke loose. For his actions, he was suspended 86 games(the rest of that regular season and the playoffs).

Things weren’t the same for Artest in Indiana after that. The franchise traded him to the Sacramento Kings in January 2006. He posted impressive individual numbers, but Sacramento struggled to maintain their winning ways. After three years with the Kings, Artest would play one season with the Houston Rockets.

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Artest needed a situation where he could fit into a hierarchy, and the Lakers offered him that chance. He played in Los Angeles for four consecutive seasons with Kobe Bryant, and the New York native won a title with them in 2010. Artest made a three pointer in Game 7 of the NBA Finals that helped seal the championship for Los Angeles.

After his four Lakers seasons, Artest would play one year with the New York Knicks, followed by one season in China and Italy. He would return to the Lakers to play the final two seasons of his basketball career.

By this time, he had changed his name twice — to Metta World Peace in 2011, and to The Panda’s Friend in 2014. He changed his name again in 2020 to Metta Sandiford-Artest.

In the final few years of his career, World Peace started to branch out as an actor. He appeared in movies such as Think Like A Man, The Eleventh Victim and 9 Full Moons. He also had intermittent appearances on comedy show Key and Peele, hosting quick segments called “Metta World News.”

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As his career unfolded, World Peace became an outspoken advocate for therapy and emotional support. That dedication to mental wellness has continued over the years according to ESPN, as World Peace has hoped to convey the value of expressing feelings to the next generation, rather than lashing out with tirades.

In November 2023, the former NBA player appeared in "The Masked Singer", a Fox show that conceals stars behind costumes. It was revealed that World Peace was actually the man behind the "Cuddle Monster" character. According to Fox9.com, he enjoyed the opportunity to be on the show.