LOS ANGELES — The moment highlighted the lowest point of his NBA career. Yet, Metta World Peace remains grateful for how the late NBA Commissioner David Stern held him accountable for his role in the "Malice at the Palace."

"He handled it great. I just think he did the right thing," World Peace told USA TODAY Sports during the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent win over the New York Knicks. "He was about handling it the right way."

Back when World Peace was known as Ron Artest, the former Indiana Pacers forward stormed into the Detroit crowd at The Palace of Auburn Hills and punched a fan for throwing a drink at him toward the end of a regular-season game on Nov 19, 2004. Shortly after, Stern handed Artest an 86-game suspension. The punishment marked the longest non-drug related suspension in NBA history and cost Artest about $5 million in salary.

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Stern died at the age of 77 on New Year’s Day, nearly three weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage that required emergency surgery. That has left the NBA world remorseful and appreciative on Stern’s 30-year legacy as commissioner, where he expanded the league’s global popularity, increased its television revenue and promoted the game’s stars. As World Peace knows, Stern also excelled at crisis management. And World Peace experienced first-hand how Stern struck a balance between protecting and punishing the league’s players.

"He cared about the players," World Peace said. "He told me one time, 'I know you’re going through some stuff. But I have 360 other players to take care of. I can’t keep worrying about you. It’s not about you.' I told him, 'I get it.' That’s why I listened when he spoke."

World Peace did not always have that perspective. During World Peace’s 17-year career, Stern suspended him 14 different times for various incidents. He admittedly thought Stern sought to make an example out of him for his role in the Palace brawl

World Peace soon realized that wasn’t the case. After he helped the Lakers win the championship in 2010, World Peace auctioned off his title ring and raised $651,006 for mental health charities. He testified before Congress on behalf of mental health legislation, and also appeared in various public service announcements on behalf of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. For those efforts, World Peace won the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for 2010-11.

Stern lauded World Peace for how well he rehabilitated his NBA image.

"360-degree turnaround," World Peace said. "I go from being a villain to getting an award. That’s crazy."

Another thing that might be crazy? World Peace and Stern then stayed in touch informally. World Peace said he interviewed Stern once for his website about overseeing the NBA. The two also exchanged emails to catch up on each other’s lives.

"He changed the game and was very innovative," World Peace said. "He told me a lot about running the business."

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