Nine years ago, the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Oklahoma City Thunder in what was a marquee matchup just before the start of the season. Things got a little scrappy when Metta World Peace celebrated after getting a bucket by viciously elbowing then-Thunder guard James Harden. It was uncalled for and it did seem intentional. Harden suffered a concussion on the play, and World Peace was later suspended for seven games.
However, the former Lakers forward told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Bally Sports, that it was indeed not intentional:
“It wasn’t meant for James (Harden) … I didn’t even know who was behind me. I just felt someone push me; I didn’t know who it was… It was very unfortunate.”
Metta World Peace on elbowing James Harden in '12 Playoffs: "It wasn’t meant for James," he tells @BallySports.
"I didn’t even know who was behind me. I just felt someone push me; I didn’t know who it was.
"It was very unfortunate." pic.twitter.com/L9Y2Y2fHrv
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson 📍 (@ScoopB) September 27, 2021
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