Kobe Bryant’s Absence on the Court Sky-Rocketed Individual Average for Former Laker: “I Knew I Was Nice!”

Metta Sandiford-Artest is a different personality from Ron Artest and Metta World Peace. At least World Peace was a monster on the court. But also a reliable Robin. There was a time, though, that he didn’t think he could spend his prime years playing second fiddle. While on Podcast P with Paul George, he recalled his feelings when he suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers. When Kobe Bryant was on the court, he was the best sidekick he could count on. But when Kobe took a breather, it was Metta World Peace’s time to shine.

“Every game that he [Bryant] didn’t play I averaged 19,” Artest said. In contrast, “Every game he play, you know, I had to actually go back and tally it all up. I was just crushing to myself.” He averaged 9.2 points when he played alongside Kobe Bryant. When he used to look at his numbers those times, he called himself “garbage.”

“I said hold let me look at these stats. I said damn I’m average 18.9. You was like I do that it was about 20 games I knew I was nice.” The reason he didn’t get to showcase that is well-known. Kobe was a notorious ball hogger. Artest can laugh about it now but he may have held some frustrations back then.

He reiterated to George that when Bryant was on the court, he was committed to being the best role player he could be. He was somebody the late champion relied on. When the erstwhile Metta World Peace had toned down his physicality on the court, Bryant famously reminded him that to get ‘world peace’ you had to go to war. He brought everything to the Lakers when he played with Kobe from 2009 to 2013 and again from 2015 to 2017. But there was a time he thought he would be better utilized elsewhere.

Metta World Peace revived a team

Prime Metta was well-matched with the Black Mamba when they played against each other in the 2009 playoffs. He previously said after his time in Indiana, he thought he was better suited to his native New York. Last year, he was telling fans to imagine “Prime Metta to the Knicks.”

He told PG, being in his prime, he personally didn’t think he could play alongside Bryant. However, as much as he could take charge individually, he was just as good as a teammate. As soon as he was added to the team, the Lakers went 14-3. A decade ago, he told the media it didn’t matter whether he was the Batman or Robin of the team, “as long as we win.”

While he eventually played for the Knicks between two Lakers stints, he was content ending up with the Lakers. His first season with the Lakers. he went all the way to the championship and Bryant’s fifth. Neither would have got there individually.