OKLAHOMA CITY — Metta World Peace didn’t play until the final few minutes of garbage time Sunday against the Thunder. But World Peace was a big hit with Oklahoma media, surrounded by a phalanx of cameras before and after the game to get his take on Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart’s fan-shoving incident during a game Saturday at Texas Tech.
World Peace is the worldwide expert in roughing up basketball fans, as his 2004 Malice at the Palace incident is one of the signature black-eye moments in NBA history. He said Smart should learn from this and doesn’t think fan heckling is a big deal — no matter what is said.
“In general, I heard the kid is pretty good,’’ World Peace said. “Those type of challenges on the court, playing with fans rooting against you, it’s a great lesson learned. Hopefully when he does become a pro, he’ll be able to withstand the fan rooting against him on the road.
“It was a lesson learned early. Emotion and fire should be directed to play on the court instead of directed in other places.
“When I was 19, I was fresh out the hood, fresh out of Queensbridge. My mentality was still defensive. I’m 34 years old now. He’s a young kid. I wish I would have listened when I was a kid too. You become wiser as you become older.’’
World Peace had a beer thrown on him during the Pacers-Pistons brawl, leading him into the stands to brawl with a fan. But he believes fans have rights.
“They come pay to see us and I appreciate it,’’ said World Peace, who was suspended an NBA-record 73 games as a result of the incident. “I don’t judge fans on what they say good or bad. If a fan screams something at me,
I don’t know what that person has been through. They could have grown up rough, in a single-family household.’’
World Peace revealed his Palace tormenter made amends.
“Even the guy who threw the beer at me in Detroit — John — he apologized to me,’’ World Peace said. “We actually talked. He said he was dumb. Sorry I lost all that money. We’re cool. I don’t hold grudges.’’
When asked if he’d react the same way now if a drink were thrown at him, World Peace cracked, “If you threw a beer on me, I’d probably put you in a choke hold right now. Then go for ice cream after.’’