2020s

Malice at the Palace: Where Is Ron Artest Now

Ron Artest - Malice at the Palace Netflix

What happened to Ron Artest after the events shown in Untold: Malice at the Palace? This info article provides an update on the Netflix documentary subject. Check out more updates at the DocuCenter section.

Directed by Floyd Russ, Untold: Malice at the Palace chronicles an infamous brawl between the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. During a 2004 game, a riot broke out amongst players and fans at the The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Netflix’s Untold: Malice at the Palace features extensive interviews with Ron Artest, who physically attacked a fan after being struck by a plastic cup of beer. NBA commissioner David Stern later suspended the Indiana Pacers star for the rest of 2004-2005 season.

What Happened to Ron Artest After the Brawl

Ron Artest - Malice at the Palace Netflix

Artest requested a trade from the Indiana Pacers in 2005. He spent approximately three years with the Sacramento Kings and averaged over 20 points per game in the 2007-2008 season. After a one-year stint in Houston, Artest signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and won an NBA championship while playing with the late Kobe Bryant. In 2011, he officially changed his name to Metta World Peace and received an official release notice from the Lakers two years later. Artest later played for the New York Knicks, and also competed in both Italy and China. He eventually returned to the Lakers in 2015 and appeared in 60 games through 2017.

Why Ron Artest Changed His Name

Ron Artest - Malice at the Palace Netflix

Artest briefly references his name change in Untold: Malice at the Palace. After the 2004 brawl, he earned a reputation as a bad teammate, and hoped to find inner peace by embracing Buddhism. Artest chose “Metta” because it reflected the opposite of his NBA persona, stating “I wanna communicate, I wanna be a better person… and that’s pretty much what Metta means.”

Where Ron Artest Is Now

Ron Artest - Malice at the Palace Netflix

Ron Artest changed his name from Metta World Peace to Metta Sandiford-Artest in 2010. He played 17 seasons in the NBA and reportedly earned $77 million throughout his career. Now 41 years old, Sandiford-Artest continues to be an advocate for mental health, and appeared on The Max Kellerman Show in June 2021 to discuss the NBA Draft. He also launched the app XvsX, which has been described as “AirBnB for pickup hoops.”

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.