NBA: Knicks waive Metta World Peace

NEW YORK – Metta World Peace’s return to New York to play for the team he supported as a youngster ended Monday as the Knicks announced they had waived the NBA veteran.

The Knicks also released seldom-used guard Beno Udrih, and both players will be free to sign with any team once they clear waivers.

World Peace – formerly Ron Artest – is a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a native of Queens, New York.

He inked a two-year contract with the Knicks in July but appeared in just 29 games this season while battling injuries.

The 34-year-old averaged 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 13.4 minutes per game, the lowest of his 15-year career in all of those categories.

With the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2012-13 season, World Peace averaged 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 75 games.

Udrih, a member of two NBA championship teams in San Antonio in 2005 and 2007, also struggled to find consistent playing time in his only season with the Knicks.

The journeyman guard averaged 5.6 points and 3.5 assists in 31 games with the Knicks, 12 of which were starts.

“We are disappointed that it did not work out for Beno and Metta here in New York,” Knicks general manager Steve Mills said. “We thank them for their contributions this season and wish them well.”

World Peace had a player option for $1.6 million for next season, and was reportedly bought out by the Knicks.

Drafted 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1999, World Peace was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2003-04.

The following season, in November of 2004, he was suspended a record 73-games for exchanging punches with fans in Detroit while playing for the Indiana Pacers. – Rappler.com