Lakers’ Metta World Peace faces discipline for elbow

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

The Lakers jersey says World Peace on the back. The player wearing it is still Ron Artest, and he’s in trouble again with the NBA.

Metta World Peace was pounding his chest with his right arm in celebration of a dunk over two opponents Sunday when his left arm suddenly flew out, landing a vicious backward elbow to James Harden’s head and dropping the Oklahoma City guard to the hardwood.

Within seconds, the roars of the crowd fell silent as fans watched in disbelief the latest act of violence by a player who changed his name last year to promote peace.

World Peace is likely to be sidelined when the Lakers open the postseason, and possibly longer. He claims he accidentally clipped Harden while celebrating a dunk, yet given his history as perhaps basketball’s most notorious troublemaker since Dennis Rodman, not even his teammates have any idea why he lost control for an inexplicable instant.

“It was unfortunate that James had to get hit with an unintentional elbow,” World Peace said. “I hope he’s OK.”

His upcoming suspension will be just a fraction of the 86-game ban Artest received in November 2004 when he jumped into the stands at the Palace of Auburn Hills to fight fans, precipitating perhaps the ugliest brawl in North American sports history.

“One play in the heat of a battle, all of the sudden it changes his perception as a man and as a person? No,” said Kobe Bryant, his teammate and tireless defender.