After Lamar Odom was dealt, he reportedly flirted with retiring and his wife is who cheered him up. Apparently, Ron….Metta World Peace had similar thoughts before the season began as well.
Before he changed his name to Metta World Peace, the Los Angeles Lakers forward was considering an even bigger life decision: retiring from the NBA. After scoring a season-high 26 points on 10-for-15 shooting in Wednesday’s 98-84 win over the San Antonio Spurs, World Peace told reporters that he was playing through a lumbar disorder in his lower back last season. The back pain, specifically affecting his L4 and L5 vertebrae, was also limiting the range of motion in his legs and feet, severely limiting his jumping ability.
“I just thought my body was maybe messed up,” World Peace said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, 15 years is a lot of years. I got two more years on my contract and I could potentially be done.’” World Peace was having trouble getting lift, even on wide-open layup attempts. “It controls your foot, the downward motion,” World Peace said. “So, if L4 and L5 is not working, or is compressed or inflamed, you might try to jump, but your foot, it’s not going to move. It’s not going to react.”
Source: ESPN
