Metta World Peace has always operated without filter. Honestly, NBA fans would not have him any other way. In the offseason, the forward committed to returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for another year, exercising the player option in his contract. He was promptly released via the amnesty clause not long after. Picked up by the New York Knicks, the always outspoken MWP plans on bringing that same attitude to the East Coast.
While speaking in an interview with FOX Sports 1, MWP touched on his time as a Laker, especially that controversial last year. The Lakers had all the super star power to be a lock for a strong run to the NBA Finals, but instead ended the year a first-round playoff sweep. The forward notes that the team owners tried to put all of these big names together and in the end it just did not gel and as a result, basketball stopped being fun for MWP.
"It wasn't fun,'' MWP said. "There was no chemistry. [Deceased Lakers owner] Dr. Buss was a chemist. All his molecules had great formulas. This one didn't match up. So we kind of had no chemistry. There was no chemistry as an organization. I thought we were going to win a championship. I was ready for my vacation after ring No. 2 in Turks and Caicos."
The release from Los Angeles left a bad taste in MWP's mouth. Prior to getting signed by New York, he considered playing in China while also thinking retirement might be the only other option. Now he is singing a different tune. Speaking more highly of the Knicks than the Lakers, MWP noted that he plans to truly "fight for this city."
"It's easy when playing on a team to do exactly what the coach asks of you and do what it takes to win,'' MWP said. "Don't fall into the category of egos or 'I want to be the superstar or I should get more shots.' We need a ring. That's all that matters.''
MWP is motivated by the lack of championships in New York. Growing up in Queens, the veteran said he could not turn down the opportunity to play in the city and earn another ring sounded better than heading overseas.
"I don't care if I'm starting or sweeping the floors. You hear me? I want to win. ... It's not about one person helping one person. It's about us doing it together. They have chemistry and everybody's a teammate," MWP said.
Last season, the forward averaged 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Alongside Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert, MWP is expected to elevate the defense.
