Having experienced an NBA career in which he was transformed from rookie cornerstone to villain to sympathetic figure to league champion, Ron Artest not only welcomes change, he relishes it.
So just when Artest’s career leveled to the normalcy phase, he decided to give his image another jump-start with a name change. On Friday, Artest’s quest to legally change his name to Metta World Peace was delayed three weeks because of traffic warrants, but he fully plans to use the name, to promote unity.
Exactly how, he isn’t quite sure. But perhaps the drastic name alteration will foster nonviolence. His explanation isn’t clear as to why 10 years into his career he would take World B. Free’s idea a step further. But then again, nothing Artest does makes sense on a practical level.
“It’s just about love, world peace, everybody can relate to that,’’ he said. “Whether it’s in the same community or same state or same country, or whether it’s country to country going to war, it’s just like world peace, you know what I mean? And kids need to know that and they know it now.’’
Artest is a complex man who has no issue baring his soul and his bizarreness in a public manner. While his cohorts are pursuing contracts with European teams in Turkey, Italy, and Spain, Artest is seeking a contract in London, not exactly a hotbed for international basketball.
Last year with the Lakers, Artest returned to the No. 15 uniform number he wore at St. John’s and as a Bulls rookie, but he apparently couldn’t stand the idea of normalcy and will change to 70 - the ninth number adjustment of his career.
Why 70?
“It’s like the universe, something to do with the universe,’’ he said. “Everything kind of repeats itself and the universe is one. It’s the same thing, healthy minds and stuff like that. Keeping the kids positive.
“I think I am at number eight with my jersey number [changes], so I’m hopefully trying to get to 10. That would be a great career.’’
It seems Artest was oblivious to the criticism that peppered him last season. After his perimeter shooting extinguished an exhausted Celtics team in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals, he responded with the worst statistical year of his career. He averaged just 8.5 points per game; his once-feared defensive skills looked ragged and faded, and he was constantly target practice for coach Phil Jackson.
The Lakers’ season crashed and burned in the second round of the playoffs against the eventual champion Mavericks. Los Angeles was not only swept but embarrassed, with Andrew Bynum symbolizing the collapse by getting ejected for a flagrant foul and then ripping off his jersey as he exited the court.