Last Updated on April 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is detailed information about Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Ron Artest and Metta World Peace:

  • Full Name: Metta Sandiford-Artest (born Ronald William Artest Jr.)
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born November 13, 1979
  • Hometown: Queens, New York City, New York
  • Height: 6’6″ (1.98 m)
  • Weight: 260 lbs (118 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7’2″ (2.18 m)
  • Shoe Size: 15 (US)
  • Number: Wore #15, #23, #37, #91, and others during his career
  • Position: Small Forward / Shooting Guard
  • High School: La Salle Academy, New York City, New York
  • College: St. John’s University (1997–1999)
  • NBA Draft: 1999 NBA Draft, 16th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls
  • Teams Played For:
    • Chicago Bulls (1999–2002)
    • Indiana Pacers (2002–2006)
    • Sacramento Kings (2006–2008)
    • Houston Rockets (2008–2009)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (2009–2013, 2015–2017)
    • New York Knicks (2013–2014)
    • Sichuan Blue Whales (China) (2014)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (2010 NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Kids: Four children (Sade, Ron III, Diamond, and Sandiford-Artest Jr.)
  • Siblings: Six siblings

Metta Sandiford-Artest’s player archetype was that of a bruising two-way wing, a physical stopper who could swing games with defense, toughness, and timely scoring. Defensively, he operated as an elite on-ball perimeter defender and disruptive help presence, using strength, length, instincts, and relentless competitiveness to hound top scorers across both guard and forward matchups. Offensively, his role evolved from slashing, transition pressure, and power drives into a more balanced wing job that also included post work, secondary creation, and spot-up three-point shooting when defenses collapsed elsewhere. At around 6-foot-6 with a strong, broad-shouldered frame and unusually powerful upper body for a wing, he played with the kind of force that made him difficult to dislodge and equally uncomfortable to attack. His play style was intense, rugged, and high-impact: he brought edge, guarded the toughest assignment, played through contact, and gave teams a mix of defensive tone-setting and complementary offense that fit winning basketball.

Sources:

NBA.com — Q&A: Metta Sandiford-Artest on his toughest cover, Kia MVP chase & more
Basketball-Reference — Metta World Peace Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Britannica — Metta World Peace