The Los Angeles Lakers just can’t seem to all be healthy at the same time, and this time it’s Metta World Peace who will be in the infirmary.
The team confirmed on Wednesday that the forward will miss at least six weeks after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee .
Metta World Peace seemed apologetic.
“Sorry bout the injury,” World Peace tweeted on Tuesday after the Lakers’ loss to Golden State. “First ever knee injury. Recovery time hopefully is a week and a half.”
Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said Jodie Meeks would move into the starting lineup, with Kobe Bryant shifting over to small forward duties on the defensive side.
“It’s been a trying year for a lot of reasons and not just injuries, which everybody has to go through,” D’Antoni said before learning the extent of World Peace ‘s injury. “We just can’t seem to get any traction. But, besides that, nobody is feeling sorry for us and we got plenty [of talent remaining] to win anyway so let’s just do what we’re supposed to do and go out and play as hard as we can and see what happens.”
The Lakers have roared back into playoff contention this year after a slow start that extended into the middle of the season. During that time, the team endured injuries to Howard and, more recently, Kobe Bryant as well as off-the-court turmoil.
But the Lakers now sit in the eighth and final playoff spot, one and a half games ahead of the Utah Jazz.
Should Metta World Peace recover from his knee surgery according to schedule, he would be returning deep in the playoffs. If he does not return, it could mark the end of his tenure with the team — he has a player option for $7.7 million next year, but could be waived due to a new amnesty stipulation or could explore free agency.
