Metta World Peace claims he's banned from Australia

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NBA champion Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) has claimed he can't travel to Australia for Summer Jam because of the wild brawl in the early 2000s dubbed the Malice in the Palace between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons in Detroit.

World Peace posted on X today: "So because of the Malice in Palace and those manipulated edits by @espn editors, I cannot travel to Australia. A fan hits me, Detroit police and ESPN announcer blames the fan, whom is now a friend of mine, and I can not travel to certain parts of the world. All because I got hit in my work place and one person suspended me and 28 others agreed. Because someone hit me in the face with beer in my work place."

The post has since been deleted.

World Peace was planning to come to Australia for Summer Jam between February 20-22 next week.

World Peace was charged with misdemeanour assault and battery to which he pled no contest and didn't do any prison time.

Australia has a "character test" under the Migration Act that can deny entry to individuals that: Have a “substantial criminal record”; Were sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment; or are considered a risk to the community.

Metta World Peace - 2.01m (118kg)

GP: 991 │ MIN: 31.5 PTS: 13.6 FG: 5.0–12.0 (41.2%) 3PT: 1.4–4.0 (33.9%) FT: 2.3–3.3 (71.7%) REB: 4.4 │ AST: 2.6 │ TO: 2.1 STL: 1.7 │ BLK: 0.5 │ PF: 3.0 EFF: 15.2

• NBA champion (2010)
• NBA All-Star (2004)
• All-NBA Third Team (2004)
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2004)
• 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2004, 2006)
• 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2003, 2009)
• NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2000)

Metta World Peace was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, alongside Kobe Bryant, in 2010.

He played played 46 minutes in Game 7 against the Celtics and hit the biggest bucket of the game, a three, to all but win it for the Lakers. His overall numbers hide the fact his impact on the defensive side of the ball was elite.

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What is the Malice the Palace

On November 19, 2004, a late-game altercation between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills escalated into one of the most infamous fights in professional sports history.

With less than a minute remaining and Indiana leading comfortably, Pacers forward Ron Artest fouled Ben Wallace hard on a fast break. Wallace shoved Artest in retaliation, triggering a brief on-court confrontation.

Moments later, while Artest lay on the scorer’s table attempting to calm down, a fan threw a drink that hit him. Artest charged into the stands, mistakenly confronting the wrong spectator. Teammates including Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal followed, and a full-scale brawl erupted involving players and fans.

The game was abandoned with 45.9 seconds remaining.

Immediate Consequences

The NBA handed down the harshest suspensions in league history:

• Ron Artest – Suspended for the remainder of the season (73 games)
• Stephen Jackson – 30 games
• Jermaine O’Neal – 25 games (later reduced to 15)
• Multiple other players received shorter suspensions

In total, nine players were suspended for a combined 146 games.

Several fans were banned from NBA arenas for life, and criminal charges were filed against five Pacers players.

Impact on the NBA

The incident forced sweeping league changes:

• Increased security presence at games
• Stricter alcohol sales policies
• Clearer separation between fans and players
• Tougher discipline policies

It also reshaped the public perception of the NBA during the mid-2000s and remains a defining moment in league history.

Legacy

The Malice at the Palace is remembered as:

• The most severe fan–player altercation in NBA history
• A turning point in league governance and security
• A cautionary example of how quickly on-court tension can spiral

More than two decades later, it remains one of the most discussed events in professional basketball.

Was World Peace convicted of a crime?

Yes — but not for a serious violent offence.

Following the Malice at the Palace on November 19, 2004, Ron Artest (Metta World Peace) was charged in Michigan with:

• Misdemeanor assault and battery
• Misdemeanor assault

In 2005, he pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor assault and battery.

Outcome

• One year of probation
• 60 hours of community service
• $250 fine
• Anger management counselling

He was not convicted of a felony, did not serve jail time, and the charges were misdemeanour-level.

Several other Pacers players also faced misdemeanor charges, and five fans were charged as well.

Importantly, Artest’s season-long NBA suspension (73 games) was a league disciplinary action — separate from the criminal proceedings.

Travelling to Australia

Australia applies a “character test” under its Migration Act.

You may fail the character test if you:

• Have a “substantial criminal record”
• Were sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment
• Are considered a risk to the community

World Peace:

• Pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor
• Received probation
• No jail sentence

Because he was not sentenced to 12 months or more, he would not automatically fail the character test.

However, Australia can still:

• Request full disclosure
• Require additional documentation
• Consider the nature of the offence
• Refuse entry at discretion

But a single 20-year-old misdemeanor with probation only would not normally trigger automatic refusal.