Lakers F Metta World Peace Apologizes For Throwing Elbow

After elbowing Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden in the head and forcing him out of the game, Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace apologized after the game, according to the LA Times.

In the locker room after the game World Peace said to reporters, "It's unfortunate that James had to get hit with an unintentional elbow. I hope he's OK. The Thunder. they're playing for a championship this year. I really hope he's OK and I apologize to the Thunder and to James Harden. It was such a great game. It was unfortunate so much emotion was going on at that time. That's it for today."

After World Peace's brief statement, a Lakers official interrupted and advised the ejected player not to speak on it further, World Peace provided more explanations via Twitter.

Despite changing his name to Metta World Peace, the Lakers' forward has continued his history of violence on the court.  Last season, he earned a one-game suspension for his ejection last year in Game 2 of the 2011 Western Conference semifinals against Dallas after delivering a clothesline to J.J. Barea.  Among several others, his worst incident was in 2004 when he sustained an 86-game suspension for going into the stands and fighting with a Detroit fan.  The NBA has yet to deliver a suspension to World Peace for throwing an elbow in last night's game.