Ron Artest. AP FILE PHOTO/Don Ryan
Apart from changing his legal name to address certain social issues, Metta World Peace has gone through several jersey numbers throughout his 16-year career.
If he had his way again, he would have donned another different set of digits—this time, in honor of his former teammate and close friend, Kobe Bryant.
The 36-year-old forward, who recently signed a one-year deal to return to Los Angeles, was hoping to pay tribute to the Black Mamba’s swan song, where he dropped 60 points against the Utah Jazz at the Staples Center last April.
NBA: Lakers ready to give World Peace a chance, again
“I so wanted that No. 60,” World Peace told the Orange County Register’s Bill Oram. “That’s all I was talking about, if I got back to the Lakers, was changing my number to 60.”
Peace, who joined the Lakers in 2009 as the eccentric Ron Artest, said he was awe-struck with Bryant’s final performance and wanted to do something special for him.
“I was so honored to be there,” he said. “I wanted to surprise him. I was so honored to be there.”
His noble gesture, however, will not be permitted by the league since it was filed well after the NBA’s deadline to change uniform numbers.
Instead, he is expected to retain his old number, 37—a fitting conclusion since he’ll be celebrating his 37th birthday on Nov. 13.
“That’s pretty old,” he said regarding his age. “That seems young, but I don’t know. Actually it’s not. That (expletive) is old.”
World Peace’s contract remains not guaranteed, as 20 players are currently fighting for 15 spots on the Lakers’ regular-season roster. Khristian Ibarrola