Ron Artest set to join the BIG3 League next season

Ron Artest a.k.a. Metta World Peace will be a part of the BIG3 league next season.

The BIG3 league held its inaugural season in 2017 and the start of the 2018 season will bring expanded rosters and some new faces.

One of those faces is former NBA star, Ron Artest. Now legally called Metta World Peace, Artest has chosen to play in the league under his previous name, according to the BIG3 press release.

Artest will join his former Indiana Pacers teammate Stephen Jackson as a part of the Killer 3’s squad. Artest will be a co-captain with Jackson. The team also features NBA champion Chauncey Billups as a captain.

The former NBA stalwart played his last game with the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of last year. He played 18 seasons in the NBA after being drafted with the No. 16 overall pick of the 1999 draft by the Chicago Bulls.

Artest is most known for his time with the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers. His stint with the Pacers saw him involved in the infamous Malice at the Palace. His new teammate Stephen Jackson was also part of the melee.  As a Pacer, Artest won Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and made his lone All-Star appearance.

As a Laker, Artest was still his eccentric self. The forward helped the team to an NBA championship. He hit a game-winning shot in the 2010 Playoffs on the way to the championship.

The final years of Artest’s NBA career saw him bounce in and out of the league. His last job was with the Lakers G-league team, South Bay Lakers, as a player development coach.

Next: 30 best shots in NBA playoffs history

The Big 3 will be expanding its rosters and adding an additional co-captain for each team. They’ve already announced a handful of new players. Artest is the first of the bunch to find a team.