Former Knicks player Metta World Peace joins Sichuan

Former New York Knick Metta World Peace joined CBA side the Sichuan Blue Whales after a three-day trial, the club announced Monday.

Reports said World Peace is on a $1.43 million one-year deal with Sichuan.

World Peace, who was known as Ron Artest before changing his name in September 2011, was an NBA championship winner during his spell at the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009-10 season.

After four seasons with the Lakers, World Peace joined the Knicks on a two-year deal in June 2013, but was let go in February after the Knicks bought out his contract. He played only 29 games for the Knicks due to injury last season.

World Peace, who averaged 13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in his NBA career, expressed his plan to change his name for the Chinese season.

Sichuan, who sat in 12th place in their debut CBA -season, will play the new season without Asian star center Hamed Haddadi.

World Peace's tenure with the Houston Rockets in the 2008-09 season along with Chinese star Yao Ming also advanced his reputation in China.

Every CBA team except the Bayi Rockets can sign two foreign players, but retain the right to change those players.

The big names of the NBA are not all great signings for their Chinese buyers, as even seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady failed to bring the Qingdao Eagles into the playoffs in 2012-13.

Only former Knick Stephon Marbury has been a success as he has lifted the CBA trophy twice with the Beijing Ducks.

World Peace became notorious due to the Pacers-Pistons brawl in November 2004 when he played for the Indiana -Pacers. He was banned for 86 games and fined $4.995 million.

Before that, World Peace was NBA Defensive Player of the Year in the 2003-04 season.