The NBA announced on Tuesday that Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace — the artist formerly known as Ron Artest — has been suspended for seven games after his vicious elbow to the head of James Harden during a Sunday game at Staples Center left the Oklahoma City Thunder guard with a concussion. The suspension will begin immediately and run into the 2011-2012 playoffs.
“The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at the head area,” NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement. “We remain committed to taking necessary measures to protect the safety of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations.”
“Metta has for the most part been a model citizen both on and off the court since joining the Lakers,” his statement read. “Still, his most recent lapse in judgement is not to be condoned or accepted. His actions could have seriously injured another player, and his absence during this suspension will hurt our team as well. While we accept the league’s decision, we will be supportive of Metta and try to help him be more professional on the court.”
The Lakers have just one game remaining in their 2011-2012 regular season schedule: a Thursday night game against the Kings in Sacramento. Entering Tuesday’s action, the Lakers were the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed, owning a record of 41-24 and holding a 0.5 game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers for the Pacific Division title.
World Peace will therefore miss the game against the Kings as well as the Lakers’ first six playoff games. If the Lakers do not play six playoff games, the suspension will carry over into the 2012-2013 season.
The elbow occurred during the second quarter of a 114-106 Lakers victory that went to double overtime. World Peace celebrated a dunk by pounding his chest before cocking back his left elbow to deliver a blow to the back of Harden’s head. World Peace then squared up, as if to fight Thunder big man Serge Ibaka, before officials and teammates intervened. Upon video review, World Peace was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and immediately ejected.
Harden left the game immediately due to the injury and did not return. He was diagnosed with a concussion after the game and was listed as “day-to-day” by the Thunder on Monday.
In a brief post-game statement, World Peace apologized for the hit and said that it was “unintentional.”
“I got really emotional, really excited,” World Peace said. “It was unfortunate that James had to get hit with an unintentional elbow. I hope he’s OK. The Thunder, they are playing for a championship this year, so I really hope that he’s OK. I apologize to the Thunder and to James Harden.”
Do you think he should have been suspended for longer? Should he receive a substantial fine in addition to his suspension?
RON ATREST has done it again when he comes back from his supensions I just hope he doesnt mess up or attack somebody
What Ron Artest did was deliberate and could have caused permanent damage. For that reason alone he should have been suspended for an entire season, and forced to pay a substantial fine. This guy is never going to learn a lesson in not behaving like a dog gone animal. Without setting an appropriate example, the next player who does something similar, might just haul off a hit an opposing player so hard that he hits his head on the floor and dies. The league needs to stop allowing these over paid thugs to behave this way, and set a better standard for all!