Metta World Peace missed much of the last NBA season – you may recall that yes, he did actually play last season, appearing in 35 games for the Lakers. World Peace averaged only 5.0 points per game, but his weak season hasn’t derailed his confidence.
World Peace – the former Ron Artest – says he’s planning on playing in The League next year, and he thinks he’s still got some real game, according to ESPN.
“The NBA is always on the front burner,” World Peace said Thursday from New York City, where he was playing in a basketball tournament and promoting his new clothing line, The Panda’s Friend. “I’m waiting for teams. I can still play. I can play. It’s not even a question, man. But, you know, sometimes you don’t get in the game, man.”
World Peace certainly didn’t play for the best-run organization last year – it was the Kobe Show, and Byron Scott didn’t have great command of his locker room – but it’s tough to twist his numbers. World Peace still played 16.9 minutes per game, which is not insignificant.
Three years ago, he averaged 12.4 points per game for the Lakers, and in his best year (2004-05, with Indiana) he averaged 24.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Yes, that was the same year as the “Malice at the Palace” in Detroit.
World Peace, now 36, still thinks he can get buckets, though.
“I could have averaged 15 or 20 on the Lakers if I played, easily,” he said.
Hey, if playing in the NBA next year doesn’t work out, World Peace has his clothing line, and he also said he’s doing some life coaching is hoping to coach someday.
“Right now, I’m life coaching a lot of people that are in the NBA,” World Peace said. “I can’t say (who). But I coach a couple players. But it’s not a thing where I’m going to hide and be that perfect mentor. I just give them the best advice I can and live my life accordingly. I’m doing that now and one day I would love to coach.”
Coach Metta.
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