Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has stirred the pot with a bold suggestion for the New York Knicks’ vacant head coaching position. On his podcast, Green passionately advocated for former Knicks player Metta Sandiford-Artest, previously known as Ron Artest and Metta World Peace, to take the helm as the team’s next head coach.
Green emphasized the importance of a coach who commands respect both from opposing players and the Knicks’ own roster. “When I look at the Knicks and I take a step back, I’m like, yo, they have to have someone as the coach that is respected amongst the players that they play, but that’s also respected amongst the players that they have on their team or they’re going to make a big mistake,” Green said. He believes Sandiford-Artest, a 19-year NBA veteran, is the perfect fit for New York’s needs.
Reflecting on Sandiford-Artest’s candidacy, Green admitted he was initially surprised but quickly saw the logic. “When you threw your name in the hat, I’m like, I never knew Metta was going to coach. But when I look at their situation, they need someone like you,” he said. Green highlighted the value of a coach with championship pedigree, noting, “When people have never won a championship, they don’t understand the value of that thing, which is how important it is that the people that walk past your bench have respect for your bench.”
Sandiford-Artest’s NBA journey includes a brief stint with the Knicks during the 2013-14 season, where he played 29 games in one of the final chapters of his career. He later played two more seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2015-17 before retiring. The bulk of his career was with the Indiana Pacers, where he was infamously involved in the “Malice at the Palace” brawl, resulting in an 86-game suspension. However, he redeemed his legacy by winning an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2010.
With his extensive experience and proven toughness, Sandiford-Artest could bring a unique perspective to the Knicks’ sidelines. Green’s endorsement has sparked intrigue, as fans and analysts debate whether this unexpected candidate could be the key to unlocking New York’s potential.