The tone in Metta World Peace’s voice hardly harkened back memories of his infamous press conference after the Lakers won Game 7 of the 2010 NBA championship. Then, the former Ron Artest thanked his psychologist and expressed gratitude that Kobe Bryant passed him the ball that set up a critical 3-pointer in a performance that forever cast him in Lakers lore. This time, World Peace sounded fairly even-keel for the Lakers signing him to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal worth $1.5 million for the 2015-16 season. “It was cool. It was a great feeling,” World Peace said Sunday night in a phone interview with Los Angeles News Group. “But everything has been normal.” Will that change on Monday? The Lakers’ media day setting would appear to tap into World Peace’s wheelhouse, the throngs of reporters and cameramen likely leading the Lakers forward to show off his eccentric personality. Yet, the Lakers’ 35-year-old also maintained he will hardly offer any goofy quotes or bulletin board material that once amused reporters, teammates and team officials alike. “I don’t have anymore jokes,” World Peace said, laughing. “I said them all when I was here. I have writer’s block.” Hence, World Peace hardly sounded interested in just providing entertainment during a possible rebuilding season after the Lakers finished last season with a 21-61 record, the franchise’s worst mark in its 67-year-old history. Instead, World Peace sounded interested in perfecting a role that explains why the Lakers appeared eager for a reunion, even if it just lasts through training camp. The Lakers hope World Peace can help develop the Lakers’ crop of young players, touching on his experience as the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, an occasional offensive threat and his heroics in the 2010 NBA Finals. World Peace helped coach the Palisades Charter High School girls basketball team last year, a stint he plans to maintain through informal contact this season. And World Peace frequently worked out at the Lakers’ facility this summer with forward Julius Randle. “I was always an intelligent player and very good on defense,” World Peace said. “I have seen every offensive play. People tried to run me through screens, get me off the ball, keep me off their man and keep me from stealing the ball. I’ve seen everything.” Advertisement World Peace sounded aware of the irony surrounding his 17-year NBA career. He’s still most remembered for serving an 86-game suspension with the Indiana Pacers in 2004 for punching a fan in the stands after he threw a drink at him. He has since rebuilt his image, winning the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2011 for his continuous help in raising funds and awareness for mental health charities. But even with the Lakers, World Peace faced scrutiny over his understanding of Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, his shot selection and erratic fast breaks. World Peace also served a seven-game suspension in 2012 for inadvertently elbowing former Oklahoma City guard James Harden, which gave him a concussion. Yet, World Peace recalled Indiana and current Dallas coach Rick Carlisle predicted, “I would be a great coach someday.” I do not claim ownership or makin' money from this video. All rights reserved by copyright owners. SUBSCRIBE to my Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbf4Qx55_YsSSVz2vbWquA About the NBA: The NBA is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. The league is truly global, with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages, as well as NBA rosters at the start of the 2014-15 season featuring a record 101 international players from 37 countries and territories. For the 2014-15 season, each of the league's 30 teams will play 82 regular-season games, followed by a postseason for those that qualify. The NBA consists of the following teams: Atlanta Hawks; Boston Celtics; Brooklyn Nets; Charlotte Hornets; Chicago Bulls; Cleveland Cavaliers; Dallas Mavericks; Denver Nuggets; Detroit Pistons; Golden State Warriors; Houston Rockets; Indiana Pacers; Los Angeles Clippers; Los Angeles Lakers; Memphis Grizzlies; Miami Heat; Milwaukee Bucks; Minnesota Timberwolves; New Orleans Pelicans; New York Knicks; Oklahoma City Thunder; Orlando Magic; Philadelphia 76ers; Phoenix Suns; Portland Trail Blazers; Sacramento Kings; San Antonio Spurs; Toronto Raptors; Utah Jazz; Washington Wizards. The NBA offers real time access to live regular season NBA games with a subscription to NBA LEAGUE PASS, available globally for TV, broadband, and mobile. Real-time Stats, Scores, Highlights and more are available to fans on web and mobile with NBA Game Time.

• published: 29 Sep 2015
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