Updated: September 16, 2011, 3:20 pm ET

Ron Artest Officially Changes His Name

By HOOPSWORLD
Basketball News & NBA Rumors

A brief hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday morning made it official — Ron Artest has changed his name to Metta World Peace.

According to Artest’s publicist, Courtney Barnes, Artest was not present for the ruling, but his attorney, Nahla Rajan, represented her client in front of Commissioner Matthew C. St. George.

“[Rajan] walked up, the judge said, ‘We understand he wants to change his name and he wants to do so for personal reasons,’ and it was granted,” Barnes said. “That was it. It was that quick.”

via Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles

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