Ron Artest spreads some luv on JR ......
Metta World Peace Convinced Screaming Match With J.R. Smith Led To Knicks? Release
Metta World Peace is convinced a near brawl with teammate J.R. Smith is what suddenly brought his run with his hometown New York Knicks to an end.
Now playing in China, the man formerly known as Ron Artest told the New York Post ?I?m too direct,?? apparently alluding to the locker room screaming match he engaged in with Smith over what he saw as his lack of defensive effort. ?If someone is not playing defense or not giving effort, that?s my specialty. I don?t hold back on my words? I said some things directly to J.R. Smith in the locker room and he challenged me back, said some direct things to me.?
When Phil Jackson was named team president of the Knicks, World Peace said both he and his agent reached out to the Zen Master in hopes of garnering a return engagement but never heard back.
?I don?t understand why they didn?t sign me,?? World Peace said. ?But then again, I?m very direct. You don?t hold nothing back when things are going wrong. You have to tell Melo [Carmelo Anthony] when he?s being lazy. You have to speak about these things, so when the playoffs come, everyone knows where everybody stands.??
With the Knicks struggling with Jackson?s triangle offense as they are, the team could certainly probably use World Peace?s versatility of knowledge of the offense.
?When I was drafted, the Bulls [with coach Tim Floyd] ran the triangle,? he said. ?I pretty much got to know the triangle with the Lakers. It?s not that hard. What it is, its movement and knowing how to play off the ball. It?s a winning offense that won 11 rings.??
World Peace has also recently being rumored to be drawing potential interest from several other NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers. Over the last several days, coach Doc Rivers has blasted his team for being soft and could be looking to add toughness with the addition of someone as rugged as World Peace.