World Peace: Melo, Jax need to make war, not love
LOS ANGELES — Lakers forward Metta World Peace said he believes the Carmelo Anthony-Phil Jackson verbal war was great for the Knicks franchise because he feels the Garden culture is “so tense” and needs “controversy.” World Peace said he loved that Anthony never “backed down” from the Zen Master.
The always mercurial Queensbridge product played one season for the Knicks in 2013-14 and doubts he ever would be asked back because of the in-your-face demeanor with which he conducted himself. World Peace also used to be a dartboard for Jackson in L.A., he confirmed, and he went right back at his former Lakers coach.
“Phil’s going to push you,” World Peace said during an unplugged session at Staples Center ahead of the Knicks-Lakers game Sunday night. “He’s going to see where your mind’s at. And Melo responded well. I’ve seen the comments. I like the fact that Melo didn’t back down. I like the fact ... he went back at Phil. So it reminded me of when Kobe [Bryant] went back at Phil.”
Anthony fired back at Jackson with two Instagram posts and with comments stating he couldn’t understand the timing of Jackson’s critique, when the Knicks finally were winning games. In an in- terview Tuesday, Jackson said Anthony slows down the offense by holding onto the ball too long.
“Melo said, ‘We’re going to stick here, be with the team, we’re not listening to anything on the outside,’ ” World Peace said. “That was great, man. And that’s what the Garden needs, man. They need that controversy. They need it, man. When I was there, everybody was so tense. They need that little shake-up. And they’re playing well. They started out rough, and now they’re playing well. And Melo responded, and he’s playing the right way.
“I watched his games. I noticed he was spotting up sometimes. He wasn’t always going in iso. He’s playing much better.”
Jackson, as is legend, was extremely hard on World Peace in practices, and the former St. John’s stud admitted to a salty back and forth.
“You goddamn right — damn near arguing at prac- tice — ‘F--k you, Phil. Mother f--ker,’ ” World Peace said. “Absolutely [responded that way]. He don’t give a f--k. That’s what he wants. He wants that. Sometimes I’d come to practice and maybe I wasn’t feeling it, so he would say something to get under my skin. So it pushed my buttons, and I had a great practice out of nowhere. So those type of moments I had with Phil I really appreciate. You appreciate it in the long run.”