Former Pacers teammates O'Neal, World Peace break 14-year silence

Former Indiana Pacers teammates Jermaine O'Neal and Metta World Peace have broken a long-standing silence.

"It was the first time we sat down," O'Neal said of a recent lunch with World Peace (previously known as Ron Artest) in Oakland, according to the Indianapolis Star's J. Michael.

The two former NBA All-Stars are currently playing in the BIG3 basketball league, and are set to face off in Boston on Aug. 3 for the first time since their respective NBA careers ended.

The pair had purportedly not spoken in 14 years due to their past differences, namely, World Peace's reported jealousy of O'Neal's contract and prominence on the Pacers when they played together from 2001-06. Those issues have now apparently been resolved.

"He (World Peace) just told me, 'Man, the year we won 61 games you should've won MVP,'" O'Neal said. "He's never said that to me. We have a really good relationship now. Maturity is everything."