When a band changes names, they embark on a whole rebranding process.
It's like when a reformed Andy wants to go by Andrew. Ok, Andy.
Recalling a new name is a tall task. I'll give it my best shot, though; I've been given 100 percent reason to remember the name in the past.
In Ron Artest's case, changing his name has become embedded with his personal brand.
Ron Artest's Name Changes
Metta World Peace Changes Name Again, 'Metta Sandiford-Artest' https://t.co/i885iXJjyk
— TMZ (@TMZ) May 6, 2020
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In the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak, the basketball player formerly known as Ron Artest revealed he changed his name to Metta Sandiford-Artest on the "Inside the Green Room with Danny Green" podcast.
The new label comes nine years after he went from Ron Artest to Metta World Peace, as reported by The Los Angeles Times. Before landing on Metta World Peace, he considered Tru Warier, The Artest Formerly Known as Ron, firemikebrown.com, and Trade Steve Blake among others, according to ESPN.
He's the second NBA player to include "World" in his name after Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors player World B. Free.
For his new name, he kept Metta — a Buddhist term for "loving kindness" — and replaced his surname with his wife Maya Sandiford's maiden name along with his own.
The 2010 NBA champion reportedly considered changing his name to "Queensbridge" after his hometown of New York City and "So Hood" before settling with Metta Sandiford-Artest.
In 2014, rumors circulated that Sandiford-Artest changed his name to "The Panda's Friend" during a short stint with the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association. Sandiford-Artest simply adopted the nickname and never took any legal action to make the change.
Metta Sandiford-Artest Basketball Career
Sandiford-Artest was born on November 13, 1979 as Ronald William Artest Jr. in Queens, New York. He played high school basketball at La Salle Academy and stayed in the Big Apple to play college ball at St. John's University.
In two years for the Red Storm, Sandiford-Artest averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks. He entered the 1999 NBA Draft and was selected 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls.
The man with many names had a career full of accolades:
— NBA Champion (2010)
— NBA All-Star (2004)
— All-NBA Third Team (2004)
— NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2004)
— 2x NBA All-Defensive First Team
— 2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team
— NBA All-Rookie Second Team
— J. Walker Kennedy Citizenship Award (2011)
— Third-Team All-American (1999)
— Haggerty Award (1999)
— First-Team All-Big East (1999)
— Second-Team Parade All-American (1997)
As a member of the Indiana Pacers, the small forward infamously instigated the brawl known as the Malice at the Palace against the Detroit Pistons in November 2004. He was suspended for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
In a 17-year career with the Bulls, Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks, Sandiford-Artest averaged 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals. He played with the attitude of an NFL linebacker and competed against the likes of LeBron James, James Harden, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Allen Iverson.
