I spent a lot of my career fighting coaches. When coaches told me don't shoot, I'd shoot anyway.
— Metta World Peace
Of course there have been times when I've done crazy things. But I don't think I'm crazy. I just grew up in a crazy world.
I'm accustomed to playing basketball really rough. When I came into the league, I was used to fighting on the court. That's how I grew up playing basketball.
Sometimes it's good to be ready for the unpredictable. I'm glad that I can go through unpredictable situations. It's a good thing.
It's not all about becoming an NBA player; sometimes it's about becoming your best self and making the biggest impact you can make.
Far Rockaway is like the New Orleans of New York.
I don't care if I'm starting or sweeping the floors. You hear me? I want to win.
I work hard. That's what people should know about me. I work hard. I eat right. I'm in the gym.
To me, Omarosa, she's just a nice lady, a big sister that I really love.
I'm not going to sugarcoat myself. For what?
When I guard LeBron, I used to always want him to shoot, but he would just make the right play. He's legendary for making the right play, and it's really hard to guard when you're a team player.
At 19 years old, when I came out of St. John's, I was fresh out the 'hood. I was fresh out of Queensbridge.
I continue to learn about myself, about my past, understanding energy between people, understanding my own energy, being healthy.
If it was up to me, I'd have everybody's jersey different. Each player would have their separate one. I think the game should be a joy, I think the game should be colorful.
The panda is a funny, lovable animal, which defends its territory well. It's strong but calm. It suits me perfectly.
I always wanted to play in Europe for a long time. They move the ball, and they move bodies, and that's what I like doing.
I grew up playing basketball on the streets of New York City, and it was very, very rough, and I started playing in the NBA in the same way.
I got bullied so much at 11 and 12 that I became the bully. I didn't want to get bullied no more. And that just carried on through my life.
Earlier in my career, I just wanted to be an entertainer.
Changing my name was meant to inspire and bring youth together all around the world.
I just like to stay ready for whatever presents itself.
I'll just keep working hard and see where it takes me.
This media era is amazing. Twitter, Facebook, ESPN, news outlets everywhere.
I know we had a lot of wars on the court. The Pistons - those were the roughest games I ever played in.
I shake everybody's hand before the game, but Oklahoma City, they don't shake hands. Only some of them, but I don't think they really shake hands before the game.
It's hard to understand how you're feeling, or you don't even know. That's why sometimes people seek counseling.
When I was with the Bulls, I was very dysfunctional.
As far as the pros, people pay to come and see us, and I appreciate it because I'm able to take care of my family. So I don't really judge fans about what they say, good or bad.
I want to go to China or coach or play arena football.
It's weird, the evolution of a person. You understand yourself, you understand your surroundings. Then, when you understand who came before you, once you understand that about yourself and the energy that you came to this planet with, you understand more about yourself.
I don't want to play for any team. I prefer playing for a lower team and playing against the best. I don't like playing with them: I want to play against them... and beat them.
Prodigy was definitely family... It definitely sucks not to have him here.
When you play angry, you can't focus.
You can tell when somebody is chosen basketball-wise. You can tell.
I've totally sacrificed my ego. And what happens? God is giving me everything.
I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture.
Metta World brings championship mentality. That's it. One thing. That's what I do.
Patience is weapon. I learned that from my Laker days.
I was top-10 once upon a time in this league, and I took a quick drop-off. Like, that's just not normal.
As I get older, I'm learning how to just play hard.
I always like to make some jokes, sometimes.
With MJ and Kobe, what you get is you get people who is talking trash to you and backing it up.
For me, basketball was always about survival because I was just trying to get out the hood, right? When I got to Chicago, I'm like, 'I'm just trying to survive, and anybody I got to step on or break, so be it.'
The thing about LeBron is he's very unselfish, right? So he can pass the ball.
I wish I would have listened, when I was a kid, to my elders or people who had my best interests at heart, and then I wish I would have been more conscious at that age also.
I remember I came into the NBA in 1999; the game was a little bit more rough. The game now is more for kids. It's not really a man's game anymore.
I believe in order to coach, you've got to start at the ground level. The same way I learned how to play basketball.
People who have followed my career still call me Ron, and that's OK; most of the young kids call me Metta, and then everyone in China calls me Panda. In the Middle East, they call me World Peace.
As a kid, New York was in my blood, and that was it. I got a chance to play for the Knicks, so it was cool, but it was towards the end of my career.
I always had the street mentality, but when you're older, you get more mature.
