Metta World Peace Explains The Reason He Rejected LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers In 2009

Metta World Peace knows how to make the hottest headlines and this time he mentioned the LeBron James topic. The NBA legend was a good player in his prime. However, the world will remember him for his off-court battles. Sort of.

LeBron wanted to join forces with Metta World Peace. The 2010 NBA champion talked to Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay show about LeBron and a few other topics. As you may be guessing, Metta was close to playing with LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Metta World Peace didn’t team up with LeBron

Metta didn’t accept the offer as he didn’t want to play with the best players in the NBA. He was more interested in facing the great players and defeating them.

“LeBron James hit me up one time when he was with the Cavs,” he said, via Darryn Albert of Larry Brown Sports. “I remember I was excited because LeBron hit me up. I’m a big fan. Even though he’s younger, I was a big fan. But before that, I didn’t want to play with Kobe, I didn’t want to play with LeBron., I didn’t want to play with T-Mac [Tracy McGrady]. I wanted to play against these guys.

“So when LeBron hit me up to come play for the team, I was like, ‘Um, I can’t come play,’” he went on. “You know, because many reasons. But I said, ‘I can’t come.’ Then I was trying to go to Detroit or Indiana. That’s where I wanted to go. That’s just in me. But when no teams wanted me, after that, I didn’t call back LeBron. So then the [Los Angeles] Lakers called, I said, ‘I gotta just go because I don’t know if I’m going to get a contract.’ But, it’s not in me to play with anyone.”

Metta joined the Los Angeles Lakers and helped Kobe Bryant win a title in 2010. They won the series against the Boston Celtics. Metta had great clutch plays in the NBA Finals and Lakers fans adored him.

Imagine seeing Metta play alongside LeBron and his Cavs teammates. He wasn’t a superstar, but he would have helped the Cavaliers win a championship.

LeBron and his Lakers teammates are off to another title. They have a really great chance to be champions in the upcoming season.