New basketball league, new name. Former Indiana Pacer basketball star Ron Artest, also known as Metta World Peace, has changed his name once again.
His new name is The Pandas Friend, no apostrophe either. His first name change occurred in September 2011, from his government name Ronald William Artest.
His name change, announced via Twitter, comes on the heels of his one year contract with the Chinese Basketball Association. According to ESPN, The Pandas Friend, 34, will play for the Sichuan Blue Whales. Great pandas live in China.
The Pandas Friend, who also played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, is best known for his on-court defensive skills and off court controversial comments and behavior. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004. In November 2004, Pandas Friend was involved in the Pistons-Pacers on-court brawl, broadcasted live, that rocked the NBA. The Associated Press called it “the most infamous brawl in NBA history.”