New country, new league, new name.

Metta World Peace, who will play in China later this year, has again changed his name into something local fans can easily relate.

World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, wants to be known as "Panda Friend" when he suits up for the Sichuan Blue Whales.

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World Peace, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks, signed a one-year deal of $1.43 million to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

The deal makes Artest the highest paid player in the CBA. He is also one of the league's most well-known NBA stars who played in the league after Stephon Marbury of the defending champions Beijing Ducks and Tracy McGrady who played for the Qingdao Double Star Eagles.

The Sichuan province of China is the home of the Giant Pandas which are on the list of endangered species.

 "First thing I am doing when I get to China will be visiting Pandas with my daughter," the 34-year-old Artest tweeted last July 31.

Artest is currently known as "Ci Shiping" in China, which literally translates to "Metta World Peace."

Artest started his career being selected 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1999 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft and have played for a number of teams including the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets before landing with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009.

In July of last year, World Peace signed a two-year contract with the Knicks and was waived by New York last February after they bought out his contract.

The Blue Whales were promoted to the CBA after becoming champions of the Chinese National Basketball league in 2013 and have another American player with them namely Michael Efevberha.

Artest will replace D. J. White in their roster after White signed a one-year deal with the Charlotte Bobcats.

TagsCharlotte Bobcats, The Panda's Friend, Tracy McGrady