Metta's Latest Ventures and Basketball Comeback

• 🚀 Metta World Peace is currently busy with his four children in college and is preparing to play in the Big 3 tournament.
• 💡 He's also launched an app called X vs X, designed to provide basketball players with exposure in meaningful, competitive games, acting as a pipeline to higher levels of play.

Reflections on Boxing and Childhood

• 🥊 Metta's father was a boxer, and he initially wanted to fight professionally, even having discussions with Angelo Dundee about a potential pro career around age 35.
• ⚠️ A concussion in 2010 and the aftermath of the "Malice at the Palace" incident led him to abandon boxing aspirations.
• 💥 Childhood incidents, including throwing a chair at a referee and breaking awards, highlight a history of intense emotional reactions to losing.

NBA Career and Mentorship

• 🏀 Metta discusses his admiration for Michael Jordan's defensive prowess and how it inspired his own game.
• 🧠 He reflects on playing for coaches like Rick Carlisle and Phil Jackson, learning valuable lessons in defense and strategy.
• 🤝 He shares experiences playing with and against legends like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, noting their intense competitiveness and work ethic.

Mental Health and Personal Growth

• 🧘 Metta explains that his journey into meditation and Buddhism, which led to his name change to Metta World Peace, was a result of therapy and a desire for control and clarity.
• 🗣️ He emphasizes that the "Malice at the Palace" was a culmination of prior issues, not the sole cause of his need for mental health support.
• ✅ He advocates for sports therapy as a normal and beneficial tool for athletes dealing with pressure and performance anxiety.

Thoughts on Today's NBA and Ben Simmons

• 📈 Metta believes today's NBA players are more skilled, particularly in shooting, and that players like Michael Jordan would average significantly higher points in the current era.
• ❓ Regarding Ben Simmons, Metta suggests his struggles stem from a fear of shooting rather than an inability, and that seeking sports therapy is a fixable solution.
• 🏆 He expresses confidence in the Lakers' current team, provided they stay healthy, and believes players like D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram have significant potential.