The eccentric player once known as Ron Artest was never much known for subtlety or nuance during his NBA career, consistently generating headlines for peculiar acts and occasional violence.
Apparently, the tiniest details have suddenly become important.
Artest, who legally changed his name to Metta World Peace in 2011, was released by the New York Knicks last season and has surfaced in a Chinese league, where he has again reinvented himself.
The China Daily leaked the news that Artest will be playing this season under the name Panda Friend, but the small forward set the record straight when he tweeted a correction last week.
“Guys my chinese is not “Panda Friend,” it’s “The Pandas Friend.”
The World Peace moniker was an attempt to foster more pacifistic behaviour, and he wore the name on the back of his NBA jersey.
The Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association signed Artest, 34, who was once suspended for brawling in the grandstands with fans while playing for the Indiana Pacers.
His name change precipitated the usual sarcastic blowback in social media, with fans photoshopping pictures of Artest alongside panda bears, and one suggesting that his next name should be “Not Relevant”.
He signed a one-year deal worth $1.43 million (Dh5.25m), making him the highest-paid player in the league, according to reports.
“I have more creativity coming in china. Im only there for 4months, so I will make sure its fun and successful before I head back to America,” he tweeted.
For the record, the name on the former All-Star’s US birth certificate is Ronald William Artest Jr.
A star at St John’s University, he played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls, Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Knicks.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
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Business Insights
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
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- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
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Squid Game season two
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Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
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Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
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