But anyone who follows the NBA certainly knows who he is and knows he is capable of playing some of the dirtiest basketball in the league. World Peace earned his reputation in 2004 when he fought with Detroit Piston fans, earning him a full season suspension. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying he keeps things interesting and plays with unmatched excitement. While some, including myself, would argue he has slightly relaxed a bit since he joined the Lakers, replacing Trevor Ariza in 2009, he has still had his fair share of questionable and bizarre moments in purple and gold.
A lot of Laker fans were rightfully concerned about World Peace,
then known as Ron Artest, playing alongside their star player, Kobe
Bryant. If there was a perfect
definition to describe rivals, these two would be it. But Laker fans settled down quickly once it
became clear these two were ready to put the past in the past and chase a ring
together.
Their chase proved successful in 2010 when the Lakers
defeated the Boston Celtics in a seven game final, decorating both men's
fingers with the ring they dreamt of. So
when World Peace announced he was selling his championship ring in order to
raise funds to donate to various mental health charities, it left some wondering
where the dirty, unpredictable, and rather unstable Ron Artest went. He even went as far as publicly thanking his
psychiatrist in a postgame interview.
But it didn’t take long for World Peace to prove he still had it in him to play some dirty basketball. In game two of the 2011 NBA playoffs, World Peace was ejected after elbowing Mavericks guard, JJ Barea in the head. The hit came only a few moments after shoving forward, Shawn Marion. Then in April of last year while playing Oklahoma City Thunder, he threw another famous elbow, this time knocking guard, James Harden, to the ground, resulting in a concussion.
Photo courtesy of theeveningjones.com
So it seems as though, since World Peace throws at least one
damaging elbow a year, usually occurring in a heated playoff game, he would be
just about due for another (If you don't count the punch to Detroit's Brandon Knight in February). With the
Lakers managing (somehow) to make it to this year’s playoffs, I know I’ll be watching
and cheering on the charitable crazy man who I’ve come to love and accept as a
Laker. But one person who won’t be
rooting for Mr. World Peace is his own brother, Daniel Artest, who is a diehard
Spurs fan. World Peace commented, “I’m
not talking to him.” If I were Daniel,
I’d stay far away from his brother’s elbows for a while.
I'm very impressed...some information that I really didn't know. Although I don't pay much attention to the lakers lol :-)
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