One of the most physical and energetic players to ever play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) returns as veteran forward Metta World Peace made it to the Los Angeles Lakers' final roster for the 2015–16 season.
During the offseason, World Peace was rumored to be returning to the Lakers since he was mentoring 2014 seventh overall pick Julius Randle in the team's practice facility.
Before the start of the preseason, the move was made official as the 35-year-old was signed and, following their preseason campaign, became an official part of Los Angeles' 15-man roster last Monday.
The Lakers waived 22-year-old forward Jabari Brown to keep World Peace with head coach Byron Scott saying that it was not an easy decision choosing between the two.
"It was probably the most difficult cut that I've ever had to make," Scott said, as reported by ESPN.
According to the report, Scott also decided to stick with World Peace to have another veteran to mentor the younger players in the team.
Meanwhile, World Peace said that his goal of winning a championship remains the same.
"My goals didn't change from the first day I signed my non-guaranteed contract. I wanted to come here and try to win a championship. My goals didn't change, so there's nothing to feel," World Peace said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles Times also reported that World Peace will be earning $1.5 million for the 2015–16 season with his contract to become guaranteed in January.
World Peace last played for the New York Knicks in the 2013–14 season but before that already won a ring with the Lakers in his first stint with the team which lasted from 2009–2013.
In his entire career in the NBA, the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in a total 931 regular season games played, which included 833 starts.
