Mark Bonifacio/New York Daily NewsMetta World Peace (l.), the Knicks' newest member, says Carmelo Anthony impresses him and has ability to lead Knicks to a championship.
In his short time with the Knicks, Metta World Peace has emerged as the wise, unconventional sage of the team's locker room, lending his philosophical views on a variety of topics, from how to grow old gracefully, to the keys to winning a championship.
He was at it again on Friday night following the Knicks' 100-91 loss to Toronto at the Air Canada Centre, making another impassioned defense of Carmelo Anthony and why a team with championship aspirations would be wise to include him in its pursuit.
Except this time, World Peace, who won a championship with the Lakers in 2010, went a step further than he did earlier this month when he said Anthony had the "killer instinct" and "special character" to lead a team to a title. No, this time, sitting in the visitors' locker room following the game, he invoked the near-regal name of Kobe Bryant, saying that Anthony reminded him of Bryant in that he has the right sort of DNA and skillset to help a team reach the pinnacle.
"You need those players like (Anthony) when you're on a team trying to compete for a championship," World Peace said on Friday following a 13-point, six-rebound, two-steal effort in 26 minutes. "You need those guys and he's looking like one of those guys that I played with. And I played with Yao (Ming), when I played with Kobe and Pau (Gasol), (Derek) Fisher. He reminds me of one of those guys in his own way in his consistency of being good."
World Peace said he was a fan of Anthony's before he came to the Knicks but that he had never gotten a chance to see him up close, never saw the work that he's put in to become the player he is. After spending time with him in camp, he's come to better appreciate Anthony and what makes him effective as a payer.
"When you're playing against somebody it's different because you don't have a chance to study, to see what exactly what they do every day," he said. "And to see Melo from when we had open runs to training camp to the first two games - it's pretty amazing. I'm excited."
World Peace was impressed with the way Anthony played on Friday night, scoring 20 of his game-high 24 points minutes in the first half. For the game, Anthony made nine of 17 shots while also adding eight rebounds, three assists and three steals and a block in 25 minutes.
"Obviously, nobody shoots 100% for the season," World Peace said. "But his field goal percentage is really good for what he does. He was the leading scorer in the league last year and you read it in the paper. I don't watch other guys play a lot. All I can do is read and see at the end of the season, 'Oh, he's the leading scorer.'
RELATED: MELO PROCEEDS WITH CAUTION WHILE KNICKS FALL TO CELTICS"But I don't know how he did it. And to see him get 20 in the first half and hustle. It's exciting for me. I hold a lot inside when I'm playing but I'm studying everybody and watching and I'm excited."
World Peace also said he's enjoyed what he's seen from Andrea Bargnani so far in just two preseason games.
In his return to Toronto after spending seven seasons there, Bargnani had a quiet 10 points on 4 of 9 shooting in 22 minutes.
"I like Andrea," World Peace said. "I like when he shoots. I love when he shoots. He missed a couple shots today but I like it. I'd rather he shoot and miss 10 than not take the 10.
"He's effective. He's a matchup problem."
It shouldn't come as a surprise that World Peace would save some of his biggest compliments for Iman Shumpert, since both are aggressive defenders who take pride in shutting down opposing players.
"When me and Iman is out there it's amazing," World Peace said. "I never ever played with someone who plays exactly like I play on defense. It's pretty amazing."
As Woodson said was likely to happen, World Peace did not play on Saturday against Boston in the team's third exhibition game.
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