2 Sons of NBA Champions Sign With Miami Heat’s G League

ron artest, trey mourning

Instagram/Getty The son of Metta World Peace, Ron Artest (L) and Alonzo Mourning, Trey Mourning (R), sign with the Miami Heat's G League, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

The Miami Heat finalized their G League roster on Tuesday, signing 14 players to the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

All four of the Heat’s Exhibit 10 players from the preseason were included in the SKyforce’s training camp roster, Micah Potter, Javonte Smart, D.J. Stewart, and Dru Smith, and will be joined by the following players: Brandon Knight, Michael Smith, Jay Henderson, Jimma Gatwech, Kieran Hayward, Antwain Johnson, Trey Mourning, Martin Krampelj, Ron Artest III and Joel Ntambwe.

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If two of those names sound super familiar, Ron Artest III and Alonzo “Trey” Mourning, it’s because they are the respective sons of former NBA champions Metta World Peace and Alonzo Mourning.

Mourning is the lone returner from the Skyforce’s 2019-20 league, which he first joined after going undrafted out of Georgetown, the same alma mater of his Hall of Fame father. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward averaged 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds with the Hoyas, and 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds during his first year with the Skyforce.

As for Artest, or “RonRon,” as his father calls him, the 6-foot-7 forward out of Cal State Northridge was not selected during Saturday’s G League draft but was officially added to the Skyforce’s roster on Tuesday.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated last year, Artest, 22, spoke about what it was like growing with a father who spent 17 years in the NBA.

“Right after a game he’d be ready to work out while people were still leaving and families would be waiting, we’d have a serious workout going on on the court,” Artest said with a laugh. “He’s super intense. It’s good. I like it.”


Artest’s Father Once Got Physical With Pat Riley After Pushing Caron Butler Into the Stands

Back in 2003, when Heat president Pat Riley was coaching the team, he experienced a physical altercation with Artest’s father, who was playing the Indiana Pacers at the time.

Metta World Peace shoved Caron Butler, who’s an assistant coach for the Heat, into the stands before getting into a heat exchange courtside with Riley. During the spat, the Pacers’ star got physical with Riley.

Artest’s father was served a four-game suspension without pay for the incident, costing him about $84,000, according to SportsCasting.com.

Riley said of Metta World Peace afterward, “He’s a helluva player, but he has got to get that under control.”


SkyForce’s Roster Also Includes Miami Heat’s 2-Way Players

Caleb Martin

GettyCaleb Martin #16 of the Miami Heat poses for a photo during Media Day at FTX Arena on September 27, 2021 in Miami, Florida.

The Sioux Falls Skyforce’s 2021-22 roster has a total of 16 players, as it includes both Caleb Martin and Marcus Garrett, both of whom signed two-way contracts with the Miami Heat this offseason.

Marcus Garrett

Marcus Garrett/InstagramMiami Heat sign summer league star Marcus Garrett.

Under a two-way contract agreement, Martin and Garrett will be allowed on the Heat’s active roster for 50 of the season’s 82 games, while also developing with the Skyforce. Thus far this season, they’ve been included in two of the three Heat’s games, which means they can only appear in 48 more matchups before the postseason.

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