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Indiana Pacers: 25 Best Players To Play For The Pacers

By Phil Watson

Apr 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fans cheer from the stands during the Pacers' game against the Toronto Raptors in the second half in game six of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Toronto 101-83. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fans cheer from the stands during the Pacers' game against the Toronto Raptors in the second half in game six of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Toronto 101-83. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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MIAMI – NOVEMBER 3: Ron Artest #15 of the Indiana Pacers goes to the basket during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena November 3, 2005 in Miami, Florida. The Pacers won 105-102. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
MIAMI – NOVEMBER 3: Ron Artest #15 of the Indiana Pacers goes to the basket during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena November 3, 2005 in Miami, Florida. The Pacers won 105-102. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /

<strong>How Acquired: </strong>Trade, Chicago Bulls, Feb. 19, 2002.. SF. 2002-06. Ron Artest. 7. player. 100

Ron Artest has struggled at times with his emotions, on and off the court, but his acquisition by the Indiana Pacers helped build an Eastern Conference contender in the early 21st century.

Artest, now known as Metta World Peace, was acquired from the Chicago Bulls in February 2002 along with Brad Miller, Ron Mercer and Kevin Ollie in exchange for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norm Richardson and a 2002 second-round pick.

IND_07_ARTEST
IND_07_ARTEST /

Artest thrived with the Pacers, earning Defensive Player of the Year  and All-NBA honors in 2003-04, when he finished third in the league in steals.

He was a two-time All-Defensive pick with Indiana as well and was second in the league in steals in both 2001-02 and 2002-03.

The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004 and were poised to make noise again the following season until an incident known as “The Malice in the Palace” marred the end of a game against their bitter rivals, the Detroit Pistons.

Artest was slapped with a 68-game suspension–the rest of the season–and the Pacers gradually disassembled the team they had built.

In January 2006, Artest was dealt to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Peja Stojakovic.

In parts of five seasons in Indiana, Artest averaged 16.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 steals in 34.9 minutes per game, shooting .429/.312/.729.

He was an All-American as a sophomore at St. John’s, averaging 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, before opting into the draft.

The Bulls selected Artest with the 16th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. He was a second team All-Rookie selection in 1999-2000.

Artest was named All-Defensive in 2005-06 with the Kings and was second in the NBA in steals in both 2006-07 and 2007-08.

In August 2008, he was dealt to the Houston Rockets, earning another All-Defensive nod before signing as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2009.

Artest helped the Lakers to the 2010 NBA title, but was waived in July 2013, two years after the name change. He signed five days later with the New York Knicks.

Waived again in February 2014, World Peace played in both China and Italy in 2014-15, but returned to the Lakers on a one-year deal in September 2015.

He played in just 35 games in 2015-16, averaging 5.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game on .311/.310/.702 shooting.

World Peace is unsigned for 2016-17. He is 22nd in NBA history with 1,711 steals and 35th with an average of 1.8 steals per game.

Next: Brooklyn Star Was The First Pacer

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