‘NBA is no longer a man's game:’ Metta World Peace
Just three NBA preseason games back from his short basketball stint in Europe, Metta World Peace has already determined the difference of playing in the league these days compared with the recent years.
World Peace, who has returned to the NBA and is attempting to secure a spot with the Los Angeles Lakers, has something to say in today’s basketball style of the NBA. The 35-year-old small forward claimed the NBA is “no longer a man’s game,” insisting that every player in the league is now soft.
"It's a baby's game,” World Peace told LA Times. “There's softies everywhere.”
World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, said that NBA today is more for kids, pointing at the players who have protective parents when they were playing for the Amateur Athletic Union basketball. The 15-year NBA veteran explained that parents are really protective of their children, which pushed them cry out to AAU coaches and referees about uncalled for fouls. World Peace added that these kids are now playing in the NBA, thereby justifying his claim of the league having a “bunch of babies professionally” around the globe.
At the moment, World Peace is on a non-guaranteed $1.5 million (AU$2 million) minimum contract with the Lakers and hopes to make the team’s 15-man roster for the NBA 2015-2016 regular season. Los Angeles currently has 19 players almost midway through the preseason, but World Peace’s debut with the Lakers earned him some points from head coach Byron Scott.
“When he came in, the defensive intensity level was high. And I think a lot of that was because of him,” Scott said, reports OC Register. “So very excited for the way he played and we’ll just see what happens the next game.”
World Peace received some quality minutes in the Lakers’ second preseason game after not getting any playing time in the team’s preseason opener against Utah Jazz. In his debut, MWP gave the second unit a boost against the Jazz, leaping over courtside seats while chasing down a loose ball. World Peace scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds in the Lakers’ overtime loss against Utah.
In March 2015, World Peace signed with Italian team Acqua Vitasnella Cantu for the Lega Basket, where he only played eight games with averages of 15.4 points and 3.8 rebounds. The 6-foot-6 forward played four seasons with the Lakers from 2009-2013, but was amnestied in his last year with the club. He then signed with the New York Knicks, but was waived during the 2013-2014 season.
Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au , or let us know what you think below.