The Los Angeles Lakers, which suffered the worst campaign in franchise history last NBA season, means business this time. LA Lakers is not just preparing the lineup with guards D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson in the roster, along with the comeback of Kobe Bryant this NBA 2015-2016 season, but they have also enlistenthe help of the 35-year-old former Lakers veteran, Metta World Peace, to help them secure victory.
Known for his enthusiasm and aggressiveness on and off the court, Metta World Peace, in an interview via bleacherreport, shared his observation of the current NBA. According to World Peace, since he entered the league in 1999 where he was still known as known as Ron Artest, the NBA has gotten soft. He stated that:
"I remember I came into the NBA in 1999, the game was a little bit more rough. The game now is more for kids. It's not really a man's game anymore. The parents are really protective of their children. They cry to their AAU coaches. They cry to the refs, "That's a foul. That's a foul."
It can be remembered that back in 2009 through 2013 Lakers campaign, Metta World Peace became a key member of the LA Lakers team, especially during 2009-10 season where they won the NBA title against the Boston Celtics. His aggressiveness was really noted by most players, especially during the infamous Malice at the Palace brawl during a Pacers-Piston match back in 2004. That is why with his observation on how the game now is being played, World Peace stated that;
"Sometimes I wish those parents would just stay home, don't come to the game, and now translated, these same AAU kids whose parents came to the game, 'That's a foul.' These kids are in the NBA. So now we have a problem. You've got a bunch of babies professionally around the world. It's no longer a man's game. It's a baby's game. There's softies everywhere. Everybody's soft. Nobody's hard no more. So, you just deal with it, you adjust and that's it."
Though World Peace thinks that NBA is not anymore a man's game, others are also quick to rebut his statements and observations. According to Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk, he stated via bleacherreport that;
"Good teams are playing faster, moving the ball well, and playing beautiful basketball now. But sure, what we miss is a dragged down, game where you can just grab/clutch/hack your opponents with impunity on the way to the rim. That was sure fun to watch. Maybe we should return to the 1940s and 50s when professional basketball more closely resembled football in the paint? Don't be your grandparents, people. Embrace the modern game."
Whatever the views of World Peace about the current NBA, he is still expected to perform and guide his younger teammates. Metta World Peace, who is now signed to a one-year non-guaranteed contract with Lakers, together with Kobe Bryant, are expected to guide the younger generation of the LA Lakers team.
