Metta World Peace, aka The Panda’s Friend, ejected from game in Italy
Metta World Peace joins other Lakers during a preseason event in Beijing on June 30, 2013.
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Former Laker Metta World Peace finished his season with Italy’s Serie A club Pallacanestro Cantu on a less-than-stellar note.
The man who began life in Queens as Ron Artest and donned a uniform with The Panda’s Friend where his name would be, was ejected from a playoff game Thursday against Reyer Venezia Mestre, which went on to win, 88-73, to advance to the league semifinals.
World Peace was involved in an on-court scuffle after some words were exchanged following a foul. Interestingly, it didn’t appear to happen after one of his five fouls in a strange one-minute span.
No punches were thrown during the scuffle, just a lot of pushing, shoving and jawing as you can see in the YouTube video.
The ejection brings with it a two-game suspension, according to reports. The suspension would be served next season if he were to play in Serie A.
World Peace last played in the NBA with the New York Knicks in 2013-14. He played for the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Assn. in 2014-15 before signing a contract in March with Pallacanestro Cantu.
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