Daniel Artest
TOUGH ENOUGH: Metta World Peace, signing a copy of his new children’s book, “Metta’s Bedtime Stories,” in Los Angeles last week, will add plenty of toughness to the Knicks, says his brother, Daniel (inset). (
)
Daniel Artest, Metta World Peace’s brother who had a brief professional career, told The Post the Knicks were missing a certain element last season — “a goon.’’ He feels his brother can fill the bill.
The Knicks got beat — and beat up — by the Pacers last May in the playoffs. And they signed World Peace partly with the rugged Pacers in mind.
“They’ve got a good team but they never had that goon — that defensive goon last season,’’ Daniel told The Post yesterday from his home in Indianapolis. “Someone that’s not afraid. If Ron was on the team, they would have gotten past the Pacers.’’
The former Ron Artest is renowned as one of the league’s all-time most physical players, and that has gotten him in trouble. He was suspended 73 games for the infamous “Malice at the Palace” brawl when he played for Indiana. He’d probably like to shed some of that image.
“I’m not worried [he’s washed up],’’ Daniel said. “It’s all about heart. The way Ron plays, he will help the Knicks out the way he plays defense and take pressure off Carmelo [Anthony], [who] won’t have to guard the best forward guy anymore. [World Peace] can guard the power forward. He held a lot of power forwards like Zach Randolph, David West and LaMarcus [Aldridge] last season way below their scoring average. He’s still very strong and has a lot of game left.’’
Daniel Artest doesn’t mince words when he describes his brother’s physical game. Daniel wore No. 51 at South Nevada Community College in honor of his father, who wore the number in high school at Long Island City. Daniel didn’t play high school ball because he periodically dropped out.
It was at Daniel’s suggestion that World Peace wear 51 for the Knicks. When asked to describe his own game, Daniel said, “I’m the non-NBA version of Ron. I play tough, emotional, and I’m dirty, too.’’
The younger Daniel, 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, didn’t follow his brother’s NBA path. He did play on the Kings’ summer league team in 2007 and tried out with the Lakers in 2009. He also had a stint in Germany and played in a minor league, the ABA, with Kentucky, Atlanta and Indianapolis.
Daniel still communicates with World Peace virtually every day and claims his brother’s first choice was to play with the Clippers for family reasons after being waived by the Lakers.
“The Clippers were his first choice,” Daniel said. “He loves L.A. and wanted to stay. But the Clippers had their team ready. The Knicks were the other option.’’
“I think it’s awesome. He gets to go back home to finish his career where it started. He’s beloved in New York. Everyone I’ve ever spoken to always said they wanted him to go to the Knicks. He’s putting in all the work this summer to keep Knicks fans happy. They can love you one day and be against you the next if you don’t perform.’’
Daniel has been an ardent Spurs fan since he was 10 and tried to orchestrate his brother to San Antonio. Their father, Ron Artest Sr., was in the Navy and always trumped up Spurs legend David Robinson. And Daniel knew fellow New Yorker Lloyd Daniels, who wound up in San Antonio.
Daniel said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich expressed interest in his brother during the playoffs.
“I finally met Popovich, told him I was a big Spurs fan and he said he always liked Ron on his team,’’ Daniel said. “I relayed the message, tried to convince [World Peace], but my brother didn’t believe me.’’
As it was, Daniel feels his brother was miscast by Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni.
“Personally, I don’t think D’Antoni used him right,’’ Daniel said. “He should have posted him up more and catered to Dwight [Howard]. They were running and running. Nobody was happy there. That’s why they had the season they had.’’
Will World Peace fit in with Knicks coach Mike Woodson?
“He’s a defensive coach,’’ Daniel said. “He always talks defense first. And he’s never had enough guys like Metta on his team.’’