前洛杉矶湖人队球星梅塔从未能成为美国队的一员，但他坚信自己应该有机会代表国家队。
在最近接受《篮球新闻》（Basketball News）采访时，世界和平组织（World Peace）谈到了他与美国队和奥运会的痛苦回忆——分享了他被“剥夺”成为精英团队一员的机会的感觉。特别是在2004年奥运会上，这位粗犷的后卫被淘汰出局，甚至没有入选国家队与国家队一起训练。
梅塔世界和平队是2003-04赛季印第安纳步行者队的全明星球员，结束了作为全联盟第三支球队的比赛。他在同一年还获得了年度最佳防守球员奖，因此他没有入选美国队的沮丧是可以理解的。
当时的阿泰场均18.3分、5.3个篮板、3.7次助攻和2.1次抢断。虽然他承认自己当时可能是个“头面人物”和“真正的反复无常者”，但他仍然认为自己至少应该得到一次试训。他的冷落也不是因为缺乏尝试，因为他分享他甚至自愿成为水上男孩只是为了和球队在一起。
虽然世界和平组织未能实现他的奥运梦想，但他仍然对自己的NBA生涯心存感激。毕竟，他在2010年成为湖人队的冠军，并在联盟中有17年收获颇丰。
原标题：
Ex-Lakers’ star Metta World Peace shares ‘water boy’ plea to Team USA
原文：
Former Los Angeles Lakers star Metta World Peace was never able to be part of Team USA, but he firmly believes he should have been given a chance to represent the nation.
In his recent interview on Basketball News, World Peace spoke about his bitter memories with Team USA and the Olympics–sharing his feeling that he had been “shortchanged” of the chance to be part of the elite group. Specifically in the 2004 Olympics, the rugged defender was snubbed from the squad and didn’t even make the Select team to practice with the team.
Metta World Peace was an NBA All-Star in the 2003-04 season with the Indiana Pacers, ending the campaign as part of the All-NBA Third Team. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award in the same year, so his frustrations for not being chosen as part of Team USA is understandable.
The then Ron Artest averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game. While he admitted he could be a “headcase” and “real volatile” at the time, he still thinks he should have been given at least a tryout. His snub wasn’t for the lack of trying, too, as he shared he even volunteered to be the water boy just to be with the team.
While World Peace wasn’t able to fulfill his Olympic dream, he’s still thankful for his NBA career. After all, he became a champion with the Lakers in 2010 and had 17 fruitful years in the league.
