Metta Won't Shake 'Substitute' Harden's Hand

 

Metta World Peace has no interest in making a bury-the-hatchet peace gesture with Oklahoma City's James Harden at the onset of the Los Angeles Lakers' Western Conference semifinals series against the Thunder.

"I don't shake substitutions' hands," World Peace said after contributing 15 points, five rebounds and four steals in the Lakers' 96-87 game 7 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in his first appearance since serving a seven-game suspension for his elbow to Harden's head last month.

Harden is not just any substitute of course, he's the Sixth Man of the Year who suffered a concussion in the second quarter of the Lakers' 114-106 double-overtime win over the Thunder on Aprill 22nd after World Peace's elbow following a dunk dropped him to the floor.

World Peace issued a statement of apology following the incident and told reporters in his first public comments about the suspension nearly two weeks ago that he reached out to check on Harden's health through a third party.

However, Peace has yet to contact Harden directly and said that he has no plans to even acknowledge the Thunder's versatile wing player on the court before game 1 on Monday.

"My concern is executing the coaches' game plan and that's what my concern is," World Peace said when asked if he had any thoughts about facing Harden for the first time since the suspension.

The Lakers forward went on to say that the entire Thunder team has a habit of ignoring the common NBA ritual of showing mutual respect before tipoff with a handshake or fist pound.

"I shake everyone's hand before the game, but OKlahoma City, they don't shake hands," World Peace said. "Only some of them, but I don't think they really shake hands before the game. Kendrick Perkins and now Russel Westbrook don't shake hands either. Russel used to shake hands, but now he don't shake hands anymore."

World Peace said that his failed handshake attempts with Perkins date back to the 2010 Finals when Perkins was a member of the Boston Celtics.

"I used to go and shake hands," World Peace said. "I've been playing against Kendrick forever. Kendrick, he'll never shake your hand so I'd have to go and find him and shake his hand. In Boston, every game I'd have to go to him and say, 'Hey,' and then tap him on the butt. He don't touch my hand. But, I'm getting tired of making that walk."

World Peace was not worried about a potential hostile environment at Chesapeake Energy Arena in light of the history between him and Harden.

"That's not my concern," World Peace said. "That's their concern, Freedom of America, freedom of speech, freedom to do really what you want to do. That's why it's a great country."

Kobe Bryant, however, acknowledged that the opposing crowd will be a factor the Lakers need to account for.

"It's going to be intense," Bryant said. "The crowd is obviously going to have a field day with that. I'm sure their players will generate some type of energy from it. For us, we just got to keep our poise and do what we do."

Metta World Peace went on to say that the Lakers visiting OKC in this series is "... the best thing to happen to Oklahoma City since the land run."

One thing is for sure, World Peace is shooting himelf in the foot with the careless comments. One thing you don't want to do is face the Thunder, not to mention, a fired-up Thunder team.

Let the series begin...