Metta World Peace: Night of drinking cost me chance to be drafted by Knicks

Metta World Peace has opened up about the real reason he missed his pre-draft workout with the New York Knicks in 1999.

The former NBA All-Star - then known as Ron Artest - told reporters in 2003 that he skipped his initial meeting with the Knicks because of an upset stomach. But as he explained to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News on Thursday, the real reason for his absence was that he had too much to drink the night before.

"Honestly, I caused that," World Peace said. "Because I was getting in trouble. I didn't show up to my first Knick tryout. I was partying the night before in New York. I was f---ed up. I had my Knicks tryout the next day. I got drunk in Westchester, in the hotel, like, 'Yo I can't make it out the bed.'

"And I'm like, 'I'm coming to New York anyway, I'm not tripping.' I said, 'I'll just come back another time and work out.' That's what I said. And they was like, 'F--k out of here.'"

The Knicks went on to draft Frederic Weis 15th overall, while World Peace was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the following pick.

"I wish I could've went to the Knicks," he said. "That's where I wanted to go."

World Peace did get an opportunity to play for the Knicks after signing with the team in 2013, but his tenure was short, as they bought out his contract in February 2014.