Metta World Peace said he could play a couple more seasons.
At a high level, too.
World Peace, in a Q&A with Ian Begley of ESPN:Q: Are you still planning to play next season?
A: Absolutely. The NBA is always on the front burner.
Q: Are you talking with teams right now?
A. 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. What are you going to do? I’m not going to be upset, I’m going to support. So if I don’t play, like this year on the Lakers I could have averaged 15 or 20 on the Lakers if I played, easily. But you know, I’ll be supportive (if I don’t play).
If – beyond winning, developing younger players and everything else – the Lakers were totally committed to World Peace averaging 15-20 points per game, he could do it. But that obviously never would be the priority, so it’s practically meaningless.
World Peace produced ugly performances in his limited minutes, which – correctly – never earned him a bigger role. At age 36, he’s unlikely to play better next year.
I was shocked the Lakers signed World Peace last season. It’s unsurprising he remains a free agent now.
World Peace had an impressive 16-year NBA career, and he should be proud of it. I tend to think he knows it’s likely over and is just trying to get attention.