In the latest Los Angeles Lakers news, former Laker Metta World Peace made a huge announcement regarding his playing career. World Peace also shared his thoughts on the prized rookie of the Lakers, Lonzo Ball.
Basketball still keeps Metta World Peace busy, even if he is no longer playing in the NBA. World Peace is currently a player development coach of the South Bay Lakers, which is the NBA G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers. He is also a player for the NOLA Gators of Global Mixed Gender Basketball (GMGB). The 37-year-old will soon be seeing action in another famous basketball league.
TMZ recently caught up with World Peace, who revealed that he is taking his talents to the Big 3. The Big 3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by rapper and actor Ice Cube. According to the one-time NBA champion (with the Lakers), he is going to play for both the GMGB and the Big 3.
MWP on Lonzo Ball
Aside from sharing details of his playing career, Metta World Peace also spoke about Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball. The TMZ reporter asked World Peace if Ball is the "truth." The 20-year-old is surrounded by hype before he got drafted and until now that he is in the NBA. World Peace stated that Ball needs more time before that can be said. He thinks that Ball's first three years in the league will determine if he is the real deal.
Ball is having a good start to his professional career, though he must work on his offense and shooting. In five games for the Lakers (all starts), the former Chino Hills and UCLA phenomenon averaged 10.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per outing.
No changes
In other Los Angeles Lakers news involving Lonzo Ball, head coach Luke Walton explained that he has no intention of giving his starting lineup a different look.
It means the current starting unit will stay the same. Some thought that changes were bound to happen after Walton benched his starters early in a loss to the Toronto Raptors last Friday (October 27) at the Staples Center.
The benching of the Lakers starters, which included Ball, was Walton's way of teaching them a lesson for their poor defensive effort in the second half of their game versus the Raptors.
Hopefully, Walton's method will have a positive impact on his starting five. The next time they play is tonight (October 28) in Salt Lake City. The Lakers are set to take on Rudy Gobert and the new-look Utah Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena.