When it comes right down to it, all Ron Artest is saying is give Peace a chance.
And if there is an NBA season come this fall fans just might see that unusual surname on the back of Artest’s purple and gold Los Angeles Lakers jersey.
“It’s all about positive energy,” the bruising forward told The Post Tuesday night in his first comments since filing court papers to put that name change in motion. “I’m just trying to make a difference, get positive energy out there.”
Artest, the former St. John’s star better known for his prominent role in the ugly and infamous “Palace Brawl” in 2004, appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court last week to officially — and drastically — change his name to Metta World Peace.
Artest said he was simply trying to be creative when he opted for the name change, though he said there wasn’t anything in particular that gave him a reason to do so. “Peace” he said was the first word that came to mind. Metta is a Buddhist virtue of kindness.
While it may seem like a leopard trying to change his spots more than anything, Artest, the Queensboro product who won an NBA title with the Lakers in 2010, has done his best to be a positive role model in recent years. Last December, he raffled off his championship ring, raising $600,000 for various mental-health organizations. Two months ago, he received the NBA’s citizenship award, as voted by pro basketball media members.
Perhaps next there’ll be a Nobel Peace Prize.
“I figured it was a good way to be positive,” said Artest, who took 50 photos with fans after the game at Nike Pro City, the summer tournament at Baruch College featuring former city standouts, most of whom now play overseas. Artest played in the game and finished with 22 points and 20 rebounds.
Ryan Williams, who teamed with Artest at St. John’s, grew up with him in Queens and just wrapped a season playing in Japan, said he cracked up when he was initially told of his friend’s proposed name change.
“That’s Ron being Ron,” Williams said.
According to his agent David Bauman, Artest plans to go by Metta World Peace with the Lakers next season despite an Internet report stating he was considering playing in Finland.