- Kobe Bryant thought Metta World Peace had lost his physical edge when they were teammates
- He told Metta that if he wanted to find peace, he would have to go to war and win first
- Kobe Bryant and Metta World Peace won a championship together on the Lakers in 2010
Kobe Bryant was the main man on the Los Angeles Lakers once Shaquille O’Neal left, and he eventually led the franchise to two consecutive NBA championships as the superstar.
During his last championship run in 2009-10, Kobe Bryant had Metta Sandiford-Artest, then known as Metta World Peace on the team. And he once recounted a legendary encounter between the two where he motivated Metta.
“We got finished playing a game, he wasn’t as physical as he normally is,” Bryant said. “So after the game, I’m out at dinner, I’m eating, and Metta comes walking in. I said, Metta. Where’s the physicality, where’s the toughness?
“He said, ‘Oh, I’m not trying to upset anybody or do anything like this.’ I said, ‘Your name is Metta World Peace right? How do you think peace is accomplished?’ He said, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘Through war.’ Win the war and then you have peace, got it? All right.”
Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, was one of the most physical players of the 2000s, but following his involvement in the Malice At The Palace, he was trying to be less aggressive. But Kobe Bryant needed him to be aggressive to win, so he found a way to unlock that and get what he needed.
Metta Sandiford-Artest Gained Kobe Bryant’s Trust During That Run With The Lakers
Just being a big name didn’t mean that Kobe Bryant was going to respect someone, his admiration had to be earned. Dwight Howard is a prime example of that. But Metta World Peace, as he was known at the time, earned Bryant’s trust by competing hard against him every day.
“With Kobe, I brought it in practice. And I played against these guys the year before that. So I was bringing it. We almost took him out. So I’m ready for that moment. Every playoff series I had, I played pretty well with the exception of maybe one.
“I had my own teams where I was the man on teams. I was competing against him, offensively and defensively on other teams. I’m not saying I was as good as him but I was competing. I think he knew I wanted that shot. I’m right there the whole time.”
During the 2009-10 playoff run, Metta averaged 11.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game while playing stifling defense. He was a big piece for the Lakers that season, and it’s clear that Kobe Bryant thought very highly of him.
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