Lakers Season Countdown: 37 days, Ron Artest

We're getting ready for a brand new season of Los Angeles Lakers basketball, so to count down the days we'll be looking at the best Lakers to wear the number. We'll continue at 37 days until the regular season begins, with NBA rebel who became a Laker fan favorite.

Who wore it the best: Ron Artest

(Credit: National Basketball Association, Getty Images)

Only one player has worn number 37 for the Lakers, and he is none other than, fan favorite, Ron Artest, aka Metta World Peace, aka The Panda's Friend. In the 2009 offseason, the Lakers signed Ron Artest as a free agent when their own free agent Trevor Ariza signed with the Houston Rockets. Artest decided to wear #37, and stated that he chose that number because Michael Jackson's Thriller album was #1 on the billboard charts for 37 straight weeks.

Ron is known for many crazy and intricate things in Laker Land, but he will always go down in Laker history for essentially sealing the game 7 victory in the 2010 NBA Finals by hitting a 3 pointer to go up by 6 with about a minute left in the game. Ron changed his name in 2011 to Metta World Peace, and then his number in 2012 to #15, which he wore earlier in his career. Metta World Peace is currently under a non-guaranteed contract to play for the Lakers during the 2015-16 season.

Who wore it last: Ron Artest

See Above.

#37 - Who has worn it:

Ron Artest (2010-2013)