Metta World Peace Won’t be Shaking James Harden’s Hand Tonight

Metta World Peace doesn't plan on making any show of remorse tonight when the Lakers take on Oklahoma City in the second round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs.

In case you don't recall, MWP nearly took James Harden's head off with a vicious elbow in the second to last game of the regular season. Tonight, he returns to the scene of the crime. Not OKC, the elbow happened in L.A. The scene of the crime in this case is the base of Harden's skull.

The shot to Harden's head ended up with Metta getting suspended for seven games. When asked if he would be shaking Harden's hand before tipoff tonight, this is what Ron Artest had to say, according to ESPN.com.

I don't shake substitutes' hands.

All right then. Most of the time before the opening tip, players on the teams walk around giving fist bumps and whatnot, but that's only for guys on the court. I guess I can understand that a little bit, but come on Ron.

What harm could there be for MWP to walk over and at least fake that he cares? Yes, he apologized after the incident, but he still acted like it was an unfortunate accident. It wasn't. Anyone could see that. Harden isn't just some scrub on the bench, (not that that would make it okay to elbow someone) he was named Sixth Man of the Year. 

I'm not saying World Peace has to make a big show out of it, but a little gesture would go a long way to rehabbing what tiny bit of his image that might be left.

This is the elbow that he 'accidentally' hit Harden with a few weeks ago.

Article by Eric Gray