Metta World Peace considered retirement last season due to back issues - NBA Update
Los Angeles forward Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace recently revealed that during the last season he had decided it was time to throw in the towel as he was labouring with a lumbar disorder in his lower back.
Artest has over the years developed a reputation of one of the toughest man to man defenders in the game and with the back hurting; it was getting difficult for him to justify his defensive role. The small forward also admitted
that his offensive abilities were being compromised.
World Peace was having trouble getting lift, even on wide-open layup attempts the pain was specifically affecting his L4 and L5 vertebrae, limiting his jumping and moving ability.
"I just thought my body was maybe messed up," World Peace said. "I was like, 'Yeah, 15 years is a lot of years. I got two more years on my contract and I could potentially be done”. World Peace said. "It controls your foot, the
downward motion. So, if L4 and L5 is not working, or is compressed or inflamed, you might try to jump, but your foot, it's not going to move. It's not going to react."
The admission comes as a surprise, because Peace has just started to get it going in the condensed season. In the absence of Kobe Bryant especially, his performance has enhanced greatly. In the game against the San Antonio Spurs
last week, the veteran forward collected 26 points on 10-for-15 shooting to help his team grab a 98-84 victory.
MWP problem was diagnosed back in May, but with the team medical facilities out of bounds after the lockout in June, he didn’t pursue it and as a result gained 25-30 pounds entering the training camps that further deteriorated
the situation.
The former NBA defensive player of the year struggled at the start of the season. But now he is picking up the pace gradually, averaging 7.2 points and 3.0 assists in this season. The conditioning coaches have been keeping a close
eye on the forward. As the season has progressed World Peace has improved, but he still doesn’t know where his future as a NBA player stands;
"I don't know where I was supposed to be at now in my career, but I'm going to keep working hard and I'm going to see".
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