Former Los Angeles star give his now opponents words of encouragement.
New Knicks forward Metta World Peace said people will discount the Los Angeles Lakers chances this upcoming season at their peril.
The former Laker said despite all of their drama on and off the court over the past year, the team will settle down and its stars will lead from the front.
“I think Kobe (Bryant’s) gonna be healthy, they’re gonna get Pau (Gasol),” World Peace said.
The Lakers are gonna make a big trade like they always do. They’re gonna get another good player, boom, boom, and they’re gonna go to the Finals. I believe it. Kobe’s gonna come back, he’s gonna play team ball, and Pau’s gonna play well.”
Los Angeles has been tipped to lose ground with the top of the tough Western Conference this season, in the wake of losing Dwight Howard to Houston and Bryant still recovering from surgery to his snapped Achilles tendon.
World Peace’s addition to the Knicks squad will mean he could be an interesting addition to what is already shaping up as the hottest rivalry in the league.
New York and Brooklyn Nets’ players have exchanged verbal barbs during the off-season with Paul Pierce declaring his new team will run the city, and despite having a reputation of saying the outlandish, World Peace was not buying into the hype.
“I just want apple pie. I don’t feel like talking,” World Peace said.
“I want to go to Whole Foods, enjoy my Whole Foods and play with my teammates. I don’t have the energy to go back and forth with words because there’s just too many great things happening in New York City for me to be going back and forth.”
And the icing on the mind game’s cake came when World Peace was asked what he thought of the Nets remaking their roster with the addition of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry to the side.
“Honestly, I don’t even know who’s on their team. I’m not going to lie. I’m just happy to be a Knick. That’s it,” he said.
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