EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace is going to offer up his 2003-04 NBA Defensive Player of the Year trophy to raise money for charity, specifically for what he called "family defense."
World Peace said after practice Sunday that the goal is to raise $2 million to help young men become better partners and fathers. He initially said the trophy would be raffled off, but his publicist said Monday the giveaway will be a "sweepstakes" format and launch on World Peace's birthday, Nov. 13.
"A lot of kids learn ... how to calls girls 'b's' and 'h's,'" World Peace said. "What about learning how to be a good father and be a good partner?"
World Peace previously raised about $671,000 for mental health charities by raffling off the championship ring he won with the Lakers in 2010.
"I won't have the ring or the trophy," said the 35-year-old World Peace. "I'm looking forward to it. No second thoughts."
He said the money he hopes to raise for "family defense" is also related to mental health.
"It's different, but it's all in the same genre, because a lot of families that are dysfunctional, it can cause mental health issues and mental health problems," World Peace said. "I think teaching the importance of being a good family man and being a good partner, I think that will help a lot of issues with mental health because most of that is born from the family household."
World Peace is competing with second-year guard Jabari Brown for the Lakers' final roster spot. Lakers coach Byron Scott said a decision will come as soon as Monday.
