Metta World Peace was more of an adviser for Julius Randle than an actual player on the Los Angeles Lakers last season. He only suited up for 35 games and averaged just five points and 2.5 rebounds in a very limited role.
Despite this lack of production, World Peace believes if he was given more playing time, he would have averaged 15 or 20 points a game and that he can still be a significant player in the league.
From Peace's conversation with ESPN's Ian Begley:
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).
While former Lakers coach Byron Scott was inconsistent at giving certain players minutes last season, not giving ample playing time to Peace was the right move. Peace is no longer the player he once was -- a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and solid two-way player -- and it was basically shocking that the Lakers even signed him last season since he didn't play in the NBA the year before. He likely could have averaged 15 or 20 points a game, like he says, in an expanded role but that would have went against what the Lakers were trying to do with building up their young talent.
It's not shocking though that Peace still has a lot of confidence in himself. That is just the type of person he is and he's had an excellent NBA career thus far. But at 36 years old, Peace is no longer in his prime and his NBA career has likely come to an end.
