Soon after he joined the Lakers, Metta World Peace came to the gym one day and found me working out. He was surprised to see me there. I said to him, “How do you think we get these championships?”?Metta responded by talking about how much talent we had on the roster. I cut him off, and told him, “Metta, winning rings isn’t easy. If you think because you’re here, because we have Pau and Lamar, that this is already a done deal? You and I are going to have problems.”

I let him know that I didn’t care what he did and what he got into?off?the court, but when he was at practice, when he was in the gym,?I needed him to be present mentally. I needed him there ready to?compete in every drill, to work every second, and to win every?scrimmage. He showed up every day and worked his tail off. We?never had any issue.

Metta is one of the smartest defensive players I ever suited up with.?He was fundamentally sound, and had a sturdy frame, quick hands,?and quick feet. Above all, he was tenacious. When he was on?defense, he was like a dog with a bone—he just wouldn’t let go.

Metta’s goal was to guard someone and take them completely out of?the game. He wanted to fluster and intimidate them. He and I would?have a good time with that. We would talk before games about who?we were going to shut down and punk that night. We’d be like, “You?take him the first five possessions, I’ll take the next five, and then?we’ll trap him and beat him down.”

Yeah, I loved playing with Metta. He was able to deal with, and?even sought out, tough love. He wanted me to let him know, “Look,?enough of that. We’re going to win a championship, so don’t mess it?up.” Most people wouldn’t do that with him. They were either?intimidated or scared by how he might respond. He knew I wasn’t,?and he respected that.