Metta World Peace thinks money is the main reason there are no more two-way players in the NBA: 'Why would you risk your stats?'

Metta World Peace, whom many NBA fans know as Ron Artest, was a rare two-way threat during his prime. He also played in an era where the majority of the league's best played both ways, a far cry from today's game, where most are either offensive or defensive specialists. What went wrong? For the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, it's because of dollars and analytics.

"Money, because why would you risk your stats?" MWP answered why there were more two-way players back then. "They are going off stats, AI-generated stats. You see guys don't shoot at the end of the shot clock? Why would you risk that small percentage because they're making decisions based off that… Until they change how they thinking about this, guys are going to continue to not play."

The scorers during MWP's era, like Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy McGrady, were relentless, often taking 20-plus shots without worrying about being labeled "chuckers." They embraced a "dog" mentality and kept attacking. In contrast, today's players are more cautious on offense, prioritizing efficiency and preserving their shooting percentages over taking risks.

Two-way era

Is there truly a decline in two-way players compared to previous eras? A glance at recent All-Defensive and All-NBA teams suggests so. For example, none of the All-NBA players from 2022-23 made an All-Defensive team. In 2023-24, only Anthony Davis (2nd team All-NBA) achieved the distinction.

Contrast this with 2004, when Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace) was named to the All-Defensive First Team and All-NBA Third Team in the same season. That year, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett earned spots on both first teams, while Jason Kidd and Tim Duncan (first-team All-NBA) were named to the All-Defensive Second Team. In the early 2000s, players like Gary Payton, Shaquille O'Neal, and Alonzo Mourning regularly excelled on both ends of the floor.

Why superstars must be two-way players

As far as MWP is concerned, it's not a talent problem. The players simply adapt to the figurative stick to which they are measured. And if Metta has a chance to do it all over again, he'd be more careful with his percentages if that meant securing the bag.

"These guys are smart; I would do it, too. They're capable. Giannis (Antetokounmpo) is capable. Giannis does both sides, but why would you do that if you can play the system?" World Peace continued.

As host LeSean McCoy pointed out, concentrating on one part of the game over the other often rears its ugly head when it matters most. McCoy highlighted how offensive stars like Luka Doncic become defensive targets in the playoffs. The Boston Celtics relentlessly exploited Doncic in pick-and-roll situations, which ultimately took a toll. It exposed his defense and impacted his offense, limiting him to just 5.6 assists per game in the series—well below his 2023 regular-season (7.9) and playoff averages (8.1).

The same is true for defensive specialists; opponents will just let them shoot and see if they make enough shots. If they aren't, then they'll be liabilities on the floor, no matter how great they are on defense. To stay indispensable, basketball players must bring more than just one skill to the table and leave no gaps to exploit. Excelling on both ends is what keeps them relevant when it matters most.