The 31-year-old Artest filed a petition in a Los Angeles court Thursday trying to get approval for the name change. His full name is Ronald William Artest Jr.
Artest, who helped the Lakers win the NBA title in 2010, has cited personal reasons for the name change, the American media reported Thursday. No details where given why he chose such an out of the ordinary moniker.
His next court date is scheduled for August 26.
Artest recently testified before US Congress to support mental health legislation.
In 2004, he was slapped with one of the longest NBA bans in history after he sparked a brawl with fans by racing into the stands in Detroit to attack their supporters. He was suspended for the remainder of the season.
He is not the first high profile American athlete to seek a bizarre name change.
In 2008, Cincinnati Bengals gridiron star Chad Johnson legally changed his last name to Ochocinco.
