After one season with the Los Angeles Lakers where he rocked the No. 37, Metta World Peace thought a change of number was in order, and he knew exactly which one he wanted next. In honor of Kobe Bryantdropping 60 points on the Utah Jazz in the final game of his NBA career, World Peace unsuccessfully tried to wear No. 60. “I so wanted that No. 60,” World Peace told the Orange County Register. “That’s all I was talking about, if I got back to the Lakers, was changing my number to 60.”
When World Peace signed a one-year deal with the Lakers on September 22, the league's deadline for players to change their number had already passed. Now, after wearing No. 23, 91, 93, 96, 15, and 51 in his 16-year career, MWP will need to wear No. 37 for one more season. Even though it wasn't planned, the lack of a change may have worked out perfectly for the former St. John's product, who turns 37 on November 13.
At the moment, a place on the Lakers' final roster isn't guaranteed, with 20 players competing for the final 15 spots. World Peace, though, seems, um, at peace with the reality that his playing days are nearly coming to an end. “A career is not infinity," he said. “It’s going to come to an end. I know that for a fact. There’s no way I’m playing 40 years, or even 30 years. That’s crazy.”
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