"It all starts with World Peace."

No, that isn't a quote from Bob Geldof, Bono, Noam Chomsky or John Lennon.

Rather, it came from the mouth of TNT's NBA analyst and one-time hardwood wizard, Reggie Miller.

Miller was not talking about the plight of the South Sudanese, the effect of the Arab Spring or nuclear disarmament.

He was talking about the artist formerly known as Ron Artest; Metta World Peace.

World Peace has endured a rollercoaster career with the Los Angeles Lakers ever since he first donned the purple and gold in 2009.

The former first-round draft pick and NBA Defensive Player of the Year was an integral piece in the Lakers' championship puzzle of 2010, even hitting an incredible clutch three-pointer that helped seal the title against the Boston Celtics.

However, since that memorable night in the Staples Center, Artest/World Peace has struggled.

Statistically speaking, 2010-11 was the worst season of World Peace's career. He set career-low figures in both scoring and rebounding.

It appeared that the World Peace experiment was over in Los Angeles. Many predicted that he would not be brought back for the 2011-12 season.

After a chequered career, the ride was finally over.

So when World Peace changed his name back in September, it was deemed little more than a sideshow. The headlines would flow, the jokes and puns would run rampant, but World Peace's days contributing on the basketball court were over.

Yet, those doubters have been silenced by the unexpectedly strong play of World Peace in the opening few games of the Lakers' campaign.

After a far from impressive preseason, fans in the Staples Centre have been chanting for World Peace (we think they mean the player) in the opening three home games.

The transformation is almost unbelievable.

The man once known as a notoriously selfish player and poor teammate has become the leader of the Lakers' second unit.

During the telecast of Friday's game, the TNT coverage reported that Artest texted his new coach Mike Brown prior to the beginning of training camp, stating that he was ready to win ‘Sixth Man' of the Year.

Rather than putting himself (and his statistics) first, World Peace was buying into the team.

The Lakers began the season without Center Andrew Bynum and with superstar guard Kobe Bryant battling myriad injuries. They needed someone to step up, especially with Lamar Odom no longer in Hollywood.

World Peace has done just that.

After losing their first two contests, the Lakers have bounced back to win their next two.

In their opening win against Utah on Wednesday, World Peace was instrumental.

He contributed 14 points and five rebounds in just 27 minutes of court-time, coming off the bench to balance the Lakers.

Without World Peace's steadying influence in the past two contests, the Lakers may not have recovered to a .500 record.

The days of the then Ron Artest climbing into the crowd in Detroit seem to be well and truly a thing of the past.

If he continues to play and develop this season, the Lakers will be in the hunt for the title come June.

The Lakers need World Peace; and at the moment, he is giving them a chance.