Metta World Peace Ready to Return Tuesday
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Harry How/Getty Images(EL SEGUNDO, Calif.) — After having knee surgery less than two weeks ago, Lakers forward Metta World Peace says he will be ready to play Tuesday when the Lakers take on the New Orleans Hornets. The doctors originally said it would take World Peace six weeks to return, but after participating in a three-on-three at Lakers’ practice Monday, head coach Mike D’Antoni says World Peace has an 80 or 90 percent chance of playing Tuesday.
“He says he’s ready,” D’Antoni said at Monday’s practice. “He said he was ready three days ago so he’s more than ready now. But again, we’ll see how he reacts to this [practice] and tomorrow morning he’ll go through some more tests. If he passes those he’ll play.”
World Peace was injured in the Lakers’ 109-103 loss to Golden State on March 25.
“It’s still extremely impressive,” teammate Kobe Bryant said of World Peace’s recovery. “I call him Logan now. He’s Wolverine…Honestly, you have to be really disciplined and take care of yourself from the beginning. It’s one thing to have an injury and then try to catch up. But when you’re already there and already taking care of yourself, it makes recovery that much faster.”
World Peace has averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game this season.
The Lakers (40-37) are currently a half-game behind the Jazz (41-37) for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
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