Metta World Peace, the basketball player formerly known as Ron Artest, has maintained a relatively low profile since signing a one-year deal with the team he won his only NBA title with; the Los Angeles Lakers. Although limited in playing time and sound bites like the rest of his teammates, World Peace has indicated that when he retires, he wants to make the jump to coaching.
“I want to coach one day,” World Peace said during a recent lunch interview with Los Angeles News Group. “I definitely have an interest in coaching.”
MWP has mellowed a bit since his heyday and as a veteran on a young roster, he’s taken on the responsibility of mentoring his younger teammates. This in turn, has gained praise from those teammates and head coach Byron Scott.
World Peace has since changed his image. He won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2011 for raising funds and awareness for mental health charities. World Peace forever cast himself in Lakers’ lore after helping them win the 2010 NBA championship. The Lakers have gushed about World Peace’s current mentorship role on second-year forward Julius Randle, who called him “a natural leader.”
That left those around World Peace expressing platitudes about his coaching fortunes.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant: “He’d be a good coach. He’s extremely intelligent and communicates very well and is not afraid to hold guys accountable.”
Lakers coach Byron Scott: “With his work ethic and the way he relates to guys, he could be a coach.”
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle: “He’ll be an excellent coach. He has an unbelievable passion for the game. Ronnie’s a guy that loves helping people.”
Hopefully, World Peace can continue to mentor and guide his fellow teammates as he attempts to make a smooth transition to the bench; this time as a coach next season.
