5 Reasons Lakers Fans Love Metta World Peace

Dec 10, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson and small forward Metta World Peace (51) during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 109-94. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 – He Wants World Peace

When former Ron Artest decided to change his name, he selected a spiritually beautiful name as his first name: Metta. According to the Urban Dictionary, Metta is “a sincere wish for the welfare and genuine happiness of all beings, without exception.” He then chose a middle and last name that represents something one would think almost every human being wants, save dictators and warmongers: World Peace.

World Peace is socially conscious. Whether the cause is mental health, the environment, panda species preservation, staying fit and healthy or wanting world peace, he is all-in. Just check out his website blog.mettaworldpeace.com to get an idea of all that World Peace is.

He’s also keenly aware that changing the world starts with children; he has four himself. That’s why he’s written children’s books and promoted them on political shows on social issues.

Commenting on his name change in an interview on The O’Reilly Factor, World Peace attempted to explain his persona.

"I feel I continue to evolve, I continue to connect to people, to the earth, to different things, everything . . . I’m just evolving as a person, and I wanted my name to evolve . . . I just wanted to change it"

Though Bill O’Reilly seemed to be poking fun at World Peace, and you could hear in his voice that he thought the name change was silly, he was quickly brought to knowledge. World Peace calmly explained that he doesn’t judge people, he just wants to come up with preventions and solutions.

Next: No. 4 - He Never Gives Up!