Report: After meeting with Phil Jackson, World Peace wants to return to Knicks

On Tuesday night, Metta World Peace took in the New York Knicks getting pasted by the Los Angeles Lakers. His host for part of the evening? None other than new Knicks president Phil Jackson.

World Peace - or should we call him Metta DaSpur now? - has a relationship with Jackson, having played under him in L.A. in 2009-10 and 2010-11, winning an NBA Championship in the former season.

Well, that relationship is enough to make World Peace want to return to New York next season, according to the New York Post.

It was equivalent to a job interview. Metta World Peace, who lives in Beverly Hills, ran up to Phil Jackson’s Staples Center suite during halftime from his courtside seat for a chat Tuesday night during the Knicks’ 127-96 blowout loss to the Lakers.

World Peace is more than a month removed from a Knicks buyout — one he wouldn’t have asked for had he known the Zen Master was waiting in the wings as team president.

World Peace has told confidants he yearns for a second chance as a Knick after his first stint went sour. When asked if the former Ron Artest wants another shot at New York when he’s a free agent this summer, the confidant told The Post:

“Abso-bleeping-lutely.’’

As the report outlines, World Peace just got bought out by the Knicks after an unsuccessful 29-game stint with the club this year.

However, it's always seemed like World Peace thrives in positive situations and becomes a distraction in bad ones; perhaps if Jackson can turn the Knicks around, MWP would again become a useful cog. He will enter next season still just 34, and he averaged 12.4 points and five rebounds as recently as last season.

[Dap: EOB]