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The Los Angeles Lakers took a serious setback Tuesday, when the team announced forward Metta World Peace has a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. World Peace was injured during the Lakers' loss Monday to the Golden State Warriors, and the team announced in a news release that an MRI showed a meniscus tear. He will be flown to Los Angeles — the Lakers are on the road to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday — for further evaluation before a timetable for his return is determined USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Injuries, Metta World Peace 

In a move that would be so Metta World Peace, Metta World Peace is not ruling out the possibility of terminating his contract after the season against all logic, telling NBA.com he would consider the move in the summer if it meant he could remain with the Lakers longer. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

World Peace has a player option for 2013-14, the final year of his contract, at $7.7 million. He said his agent, Marc Cornstein, will approach the Lakers about an extension, but that will be a very short conversation unless the 33-year-old small forward is willing to take a severe pay cut. And it may be short no matter what. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

But would he take a pay cut to help make it happen? “It’s too early to say those types of things right now,” he said Monday night at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors beat the Lakers 109-103. “It’s too early to say. I don’t know what the Lakers are thinking. I don’t know what anybody’s thinking. I don’t even know what other teams think. I don’t know what’s going on because I haven’t told my agent, ‘Hey, go out there and ask around’ and things like that. I don’t know what anybody’s thinking at this point in time. I just try to keep my game. I’m playing at a good level.” NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Bynum, 25, is getting $16.1 million in the last year of his contract. He becomes a free agent in July. "I'm sure he'll be OK cause he's still young. He's got so much time to play and get contracts," said Metta World Peace, Bynum's teammate with the Lakers for three seasons. "He played hard. That's the price you've gotta pay when you've won two rings." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum, Injuries, Metta World Peace 

Paul George joined 1070 the Fan in Indianapolis with Grady and Big Joe to talk about how Roy Hibbert’s offensive improvement has helped his game, on Metta World Peace saying he is the best defensive player in the league and what led to his growth as a player this season. On the impact that Roy Hibbert’s made on offense since the All-Star break: “It hasn’t changed much (for me) but it’s made my job easier. Now Roy is making shots down there and creating his own. That’s just freeing up the whole floor and freeing up driving lanes for myself. His emergence and him coming back around with his confidence has been great for us.” On Metta World Peace saying he is the best defensive player in the game: “He’s obviously been on the defensive team, he’s been Defensive Player of the Year so he has the recognition and everything behind him to back that up. I obviously can’t do that as of now but I’m up there. If he considers himself the best defensive player of the game, I consider myself the same. I guess a tale of two sides.” Sports Radio Interviews

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Metta World Peace 

Paul George on Metta World Peace saying he is the best defensive player in the game: “He’s obviously been on the defensive team, he’s been Defensive Player of the Year so he has the recognition and everything behind him to back that up. I obviously can’t do that as of now but I’m up there. If he considers himself the best defensive player of the game, I consider myself the same. I guess a tale of two sides.” Sports Radio Interviews

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Paul George, Metta World Peace 

Injuries have been the story of the Los Angeles Lakers' season as much as anything, from Dwight Howard's back and shoulder to Pau Gasol's knees and foot to Jordan Hill's hip, Steve Nash's leg, Steve Blake's groin and now Kobe Bryant's ankle. And there was another injury that went unreported and hampered L.A., as well. After scoring 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, Metta World Peace revealed he had been playing through a right leg injury for more than two months. "I popped something in my fibula, but it didn't tear," World Peace said, saying he suffered the injury when the Lakers hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 11. World Peace said he took a charge on San Antonio's Tiago Splitter on Jan. 9 and got kneed in the pelvic region, which led to the leg injury in his next game. "Messed up my alignment," World Peace said. "Most injuries come from when you're pelvis is not aligned. People don't know that." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Injuries, Metta World Peace 

The Lakers' 99-93 victory Friday over the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse featured all the elements that make teamwork tick. Dwight Howard overcame early foul trouble en route to 20 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Metta World Peace both scored (19 points) and defended, holding David West to 4-of-13 shooting. Reserves Antawn Jamison (18 points) and Steve Blake (17 points) made big shot after big shot. Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni called it "a big win for us." Others took it a step further. "It was our best win of the season," World Peace said. Los Angeles Daily News

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Mike D'Antoni, Dwight Howard, Steve Blake, Antawn Jamison, David West, Metta World Peace 

Metta World Peace on what they can take away from the comeback win over the Hornets: “Nothing really, because at the end of the day, even if we would’ve lost that game, I’m still playing for championships, I couldn’t care less. If we lose that game, we’re still coming out number one at the end of the season so that game means nothing to me.” Sports Radio Interviews

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Metta World Peace on his support for Dwight Howard this season: “Of course because you never know what somebody is going through in their life, you never know what somebody is going through physically, mentally, you never know if somebody is not ready for this pressure, you never know what anybody is going through. All you can do is support. Even as a teammate, a fan, a coach or whatever, you just have to be there by their side. I learned that from playing with Derek Fisher. I learned that just being egotistical early in my career. You gotta be there for your teammates because all you have is each other. I know that for a fact. You’re not going to win with just one person. At the end of the day, when you win, it says the Lakers champions or the Heat champions last year, it doesn’t say one name. We need everybody, even the 12th man.” Sports Radio Interviews

Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher, Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace 

Metta World Peace didn't want to talk. No way. No comment. Of course, he couldn't help himself and began a 16-minute discourse on a variety of topics. First and foremost: The NBA isn't doing enough to protect Lakers teammate Dwight Howard. "Dwight gets fouled a lot intentionally. Dwight goes up, they push him in the back," World Peace said Saturday. "So I'll let you guys do your research from here on out, just monitor how Dwight gets fouled. Is it an intentional foul or not? Because y'all aren’t looking for those things unless it’s brought to your attention. "I'm not complaining. Sometimes he gets hurt. Those are intentional fouls. He's getting hurt. He got hurt when he got pushed in Orlando [last season]. These guys are coming down on his back. He had to get surgery as a result of that. And he missed games. He's not complaining. He's a little upset but he goes out there and plays. And those [fouls] are multiple occasions." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace 

World Peace, who has been suspended by the league 11 times since 2003, laid out why he shouldn't be blamed for his latest transgression. And perhaps many of them too. "I came to the NBA in '99. I started watching NBA basketball, like, in '95. The Knicks, Miami, I was a fan of those type of playoff series that took place in the NBA on TV and I wanted to play in that atmosphere," World Peace said. "So as a young kid I had to make a decision: I'm not going to be scared to play in that type of game. That's my mind frame. You look at [Michael] Jordan against Detroit, Jordan had to grow. They were bullying him. so I'm like, 'OK, that's never going to happen to me. When I get to the league, I dare somebody from, like, the Detroit Pistons to try to bully me.' "I was in the league when I was a rookie, I remember Alonzo Mourning saying, 'You come in here again, young fella, blahblahblah.' I went in there again. Nineteen years old. Do it." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace 

The Lakers' Metta World Peace threw an elbow Monday at Kenneth Faried. It was determined, later in the week, to be a flagrant two foul. "I saw it on film, I thought it was, whatever the word is, premeditated," Karl said. "I don't know if it was flagrant enough to be a 2." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Kenneth Faried, Metta World Peace 

The NBA seemed to agree, retroactively assessing World Peace a flagrant-2 foul Thursday. If the league needed more evidence, it could always check with Faried. "I still have a scar in my mouth," Faried said. "When I eat, it still burns." Los Angeles Times

Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Kenneth Faried, Metta World Peace 

Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace put on his Cookie Monster pajamas and came to the rescue of his nephew and brother who had been detained by police outside his condo complex earlier this week, according to the Los Angeles Times. Unknown to World Peace, three men working for his Artest Media Group were shooting a scene about life on the streets and were staging a shootout with fake guns when the police showed up. "I'm in my underwear, and my son says, 'Hey Dad, there's police at the door,'" World Peace told the Times on Wednesday. "So I jump out. I'm nervous. I see these police with rifles and scopes. I'm like, 'What happened?' I don't know what's going on at this point. 'What happened, what happened?' And then the police was like, 'The building is being taken over by guys downstairs.'" ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

After police were convinced that the scene was staged, World Peace said the mood lightened. "The police was laughing," he said, according to the Times. "It was funny, but it was irresponsible on the actors' part because you do the scene and that's it. They didn't understand that after you do the scene, you put the stuff away." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Early Tuesday morning, Metta World Peace was awakened to a bizarre scenario. "I'm in my underwear and my son says, 'Hey dad, there's police at the door,'" World Peace said in an interview with The Times after the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening. "So I jump out, I'm nervous. I see these police with rifles and scopes. "I'm like, 'What happened?' I don't know what's going on at this point. 'What happened, what happened?' And then the police was like, 'The building is being taken over by guys downstairs.'" Los Angeles Times

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Metta World Peace was roused out of bed early this morning when police responded to a report of 4 armed men in the basketball star's condo complex ... TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell us LAPD got a call around midnight about 4 guys -- 3 with handguns and one with a shotgun -- lurking around the LA Laker's westside home. We're told officers called out the suspects over a loudspeaker, and 2 men -- Metta's brother and cousin -- heard the commotion and came out to talk to cops. Only problem is ... we're told they didn't have any ID, so police handcuffed both men until they could make sure they weren't suspects. Sources say officers had to wake up Metta -- who quickly vouched for his brother and cousin, and both men were released. We're told Mr. World Peace was very "understanding and professional" ... naturally. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Law, Metta World Peace 

NBA commissioner David Stern said Thursday that despite suggestions to the contrary, Royce White’s recent dispute with the Rockets does not represent the first time the league has been involved with mental health issues. “Of course it’s not. We’ve been dealing with this situation for years,” Stern said during a meeting with local media on the opening day of the NBA Jam Session at the George R. Brown Convention Center. “Does anybody remember (Metta World Peace, the former Ron Artest) thanking his therapist at the Finals when the (2010 Lakers) won the championship? Dealing with mental health issues or problems as part of our player programs’ agenda goes back, well, two decades.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, David Stern, Metta World Peace, Royce White