Metta World Peace, which New York basketball fans first met as Ron Artest, has never been shy about expressing his desire to train the New York Knicks one day. While he doesn’t want to talk about taking someone else’s job, since the front office considers a long list of candidates for the position, World Peace thinks he would make a good hire.
“Listen, I don’t want anyone’s job,” said World Peace on the Battle for LA Podcast with Tomer Azarly and Ryan Ward. “I love sports. As you can see, I am launching a sports club. You know, ClutchPoints has been of great help. I love basketball. I told my staff if Knicks’ work had ever been available, I would love it. I would like a NBA coaching job. The Knicks? Definitely. “
Originally from Queensbridge Housing Projects, which is one of the largest public housing projects in the country, World Peace played at Madison Square Garden as he led St. John’s to Elite Eight as a university player.
He could easily have ended his career in the Big Apple, but as Knicks fans know all too well, New York aired it in the 1999 NBA Draft to select Frederic Weis, who never adapted to them.
Artest, as it was known at the time, was chosen later by the Chicago Bulls. The 2004 NBA defensive player of the year ended up playing 29 games for the Knicks during the 2013-14 season.
“I was an extremely intelligent player,” said World Peace. “I saw every single offense launched against me because the coaches were trying to get me out of their best offensive players because I was like a hyena. I have seen every single offensive strategy to try and make me fall. “
The Knicks will interview at least 11 candidates for their position as head coach. The recently named team president Leon Rose is expected to hire former CAA client Tom Thibodeau, but there is also strong internal support for former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson.
World Peace thinks in addition to fixing things on the basketball court, as a coach, he will make sure that the fans give the team due respect.
“If I get the head coaching job, I told people that I will go to the fans first,” said World Peace. “I don’t like how the Knicks treat. I don’t like how New York City fans have always put pressure on the Knicks. Just when we’re about to win, fans have to come in, start playing drums, get rid of everyone, I mean, we’re building something here. I have to feel it directly. People don’t like to listen to him and this is the type of person that I am and will be my first [agenda] and I will face him ”.