Metta World Peace was 'depressed' and 'super-panicked' following Malice at the Palace

Metta World Peace opened up about his mental health struggles following the infamous Malice at the Palace, which resulted in him being suspended for 72 games. He said that when he returned to Pacers, he started to "panic" and feel "depressed," which resulted in him requesting a trade.

"I worked out from November until the playoffs," he told ESPN. "And then beyond the playoffs, in the summertime, I started to get depressed. And then the season's coming back, then I started to panic a little bit when that season came back. So, then that's when I requested the trade. I was like, I just need to get out of here. Then, I really went into depression."

World Peace was traded to the Kings early in the 2005-06 season and he revealed that he gained 25 pounds once he got to Sacramento. He said he would still get "super-panicked" but that receiving mental health support kept him from spiraling.

"I was just super-panicked, but I had a support system," he said. "I still had my therapist."

Many assumed that World Peace's career was over once he left the Pacers but he credits "balance" for allowing him to get himself back on track. He eventually landed with the Lakers, where he won a championship in 2010.