HoopsHype.com Rumors

Alex Kennedy: Source in the room just texted back regarding Ron Artest's tweet: "He doesn't have much credibility. Consider the source." Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, CBA, Lockout, NBPA 

Metta World Peace, the NBA star formerly known as Ron Artest, isn't happy to be this season's first contestant sent home from Dancing with the Stars, but the L.A. Laker admits that he didn't take things in the ballroom as seriously as he does on the basketball court. "I was having a great time and I was looking forward to learning a few dances, but I wish I would have put in a little more effort," he told PEOPLE backstage after Tuesday night's elimination. "Years ago when I saw Dancing with the Stars, I didn't think I could ever do the show. And now that I'm here, I'm like, 'I wish I would have tried a little harder.' " People

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Showbusiness, Metta World Peace 

The NBA star formerly known as Ron Artest was the first contestant bounced from "Dancing with the Stars" - but he has rebounded in a big way for his old neighborhood. The edgy and eccentric member of the LA Lakers, who grew up in the Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, has donated more than $100,000 to charities in his former stomping grounds. The hard-nosed defender, who legally changed his name to Metta World Peace last Friday, gave $65,000 to Long Island City-based Steinway Child and Family Services and $55,000 to The Child Center of New York, based in nearby Woodside. New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Metta World Peace 

On Tuesday night's elimination show for "Dancing With the Stars," an upbeat Ron Artest - or Metta World Peace, as he was referred to throughout the night - didn't seem too downtrodden over being the first ouster of the season. "All I want to know is, who's coming with me?" he shouted after his elimination, turning to the remaining 11 contestants. "Peta was great, everybody give a round of applause for Peta. She was awesome!" Artest snagged the low score of the night on Monday, pulling in a mere 14 points after an "atrocious" cha-cha-cha, according to judge Len Goodman. "It was all sizzle and no sausage," Len remarked after his performance Monday - clearly not in reference to the basketball player's shimmery gold vest. New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Showbusiness, Metta World Peace 

Ron Artest: Wow!! I didn't know I could have so many media outlets talking about metta!!! Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest 

Ron Artest: Mettaworldpeace website coming soon Ronartest.com will be left to my Lil man Ron Aka slim ARTEST Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest 

Let there be peace. As in Metta World Peace. A brief hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday morning made it official -- Ron Artest has changed his name to Metta World Peace. According to Artest's publicist, Courtney Barnes, Artest was not present for the ruling, but his attorney, Nahla Rajan, represented her client in front of commissioner Matthew C. St. George. "[Rajan] walked up, the judge said, 'We understand he wants to change his name and he wants to do so for personal reasons,' and it was granted," Barnes said. "That was it. It was that quick." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Metta World Peace 

Artest's 8-year-old daughter, Diamond, also plans to change her surname from Artest to World Peace now that her father's name change has become official. "This process needed to go through [Friday] and be legal before there would be any pursuit of that," Barnes said. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Metta World Peace 

Ron Artest: Some big companies are keeping me from signing autographs to sell me sneakers! Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Sneakers 

Lakers forward Ron Artest will find out first-hand whether he will become Metta World Peace. His publicist, Courtney Barnes, told The Times that Artest plans to attend Friday's hearing at L.A. Superior Court, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Artest had an Aug. 26 hearing postponed because of two traffic tickets, but Barnes said that shouldn't be an issue. "It's all resolved," he said. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest 

But even you admitted, back when you were with the Pacers, that trying to do music while playing basketball was distracting. Are you in a place now where you can handle it better? Ron Artest: I won [2004] Defensive Player of the Year when I was [doing music]. I was doing music for the last 12 years. I had an album come out in 2005, still averaged 20 points. Every team still wanted me. Went to the Houston Rockets. Dropped singles. I recorded “Champion" a year before we won the championship, you know? And I wanted to do that to build my celebrity up. To entertain. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Showbusiness 

You're the only guy on the team with an established relationship with Mike Brown, having worked together in Indiana. What should the guys expect? Ron Artest: He’s a great coach. Great defensive coach. He’s amazing. I know he’s gonna push us in practice. I already know. And I can’t wait. I know the system already. I pretty much know the system. So I’m ready. I wouldn’t be surprised if he brings me off the bench. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Coaching, Mike Brown 

Ron Artest just recruited another ardent follower in his ongoing quest for World Peace -- his daughter. Ron's rep tells TMZ, 8-year-old Diamond Artest has told her dad she wants to take on the World Peace name -- and with a name like Diamond, the resulting moniker might even be awesomer than her dad's. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest 

Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest says he was inspired to change his name to Metta World Peace by Chad Ochocinco, assisted in selecting his new name by a mystery woman, and foiled in formally doing so -- until at least his next court date on Sept. 16 -- by a complete lack of knowledge about how to pay parking tickets. "It comes down to the parking tickets. I don't know how to pay a parking ticket. I've never paid a parking ticket in my life," Artest told Stephen A. Smith on 710 ESPNLA Wednesday night. "There's so much fine print," Artest continued. "I just get them and throw them in my glove compartment." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest 

Artest alluded to a mystery woman who helped him come up with new names, narrow the list down, and then ultimately select Metta World Peace. "Metta is going to be the first name and it means like friendship, love and kindness," he said. "World Peace is going to be the last name, so everybody can get ready to buy their World Peace jerseys." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest 

Ron Artest doesn't want to part ways with the British Basketball League's Cheshire Jets just yet. It's only been three weeks since he boasted to The Times, "I'm definitely playing for the Jets." But plenty of cold water has poured on that possibility. Artest postponed his planned trip to the U.K. from Aug. 18-23, his agent David Bauman said, partly because of the team's failure to offer insurance. Bauman has since said Artest won't join the Jets should they refuse insurance. And, oh yeah, it just became official that Artest will be featured on "Dancing with the Stars," beginning Sept. 19. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Lockout, Cheshire Jets 

Artest maintains his plans won't alter. "I'm going to be with the Jets after Thanksgiving," Artest said in a phone interview. "After Dancing with the Stars, I'm going to go with the Jets." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest, Lockout, Cheshire Jets, Showbusiness 

The future Metta World Peace, currently known as NBA star Ron Artest, is gearing up to don spandex and mambo arms when the Lakers forward competes on “Dancing with the Stars,” but he isn’t sure that’s going to help him survive on the show. “I think Hope’s got it,” he told Access Hollywood Live’s Kit Hoover on Monday night, following the cast announcement, referring to U.S.A. soccer star Hope Solo. “She’s gonna win. I don’t have a chance.” Access Hollywood

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest 

Concerns over his poor dance moves and mobility quickly evaporated for Ron Artest as soon as he talked with his 8-year-old daughter Diamond. She's the only one who the Lakers forward said could convince him to appear on "Dancing With the Stars." "She said, 'Daddy, you can do it,' " Artest recalled Monday in a phone interview. "It's going to be fun." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest 

It wasn't just a case of Artest being unable to say no to his daughter. At age 4 in 2007, Diamond was diagnosed with wilms tumor, Artest said, a kidney cancer that affects children. So in honor of his daughter successfully fighting the illness, Artest said he plans to donate the money he earns on "Dancing with the Stars" to the Cancer Research Foundation. That will include the $125,000 Artest said he's making for appearing on the show beginning Sept. 19 and any additional money he earns should he advance in each round. "That's the only reason I'm doing it," Artest said. "I'm doing it for a cause." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Ron Artest