Los Angeles Lakers: Metta World Peace's Rebirth Best-Case Scenario for Kobe

Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace has always been difficult to figure out from a personality stand point, but you know what you get from him on the court.

That is tenacious defense and a solid offensive game, in which he has averaged 14.2 PPG throughout his career.

However, along with his name change came a disappearance at the offensive end of the floor, as World Peace has looked nothing like the former Ron Artest and he even admitted to ESPN's Dave McMenamin that because of his body breaking down, he seriously considered retirement.

Yet judging by his performances during the month of April, World Peace has been reborn as a player, and that's the best-case scenario for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers to chase another championship.

World Peace scored a season-high 26 points on 10-for-15 shooting in Wednesday's 98-84 win over the San Antonio Spurs. His solid shooting performance accompanies efforts of 19 and 23 points in three of the Lakers' past four games.

It's a good sign for Mike Brown and company to see World Peace not only producing, but moving better on the floor.

World Peace recently let it be known that he was playing through a lumbar disorder in his lower back since last season. The back pain was limiting the range of motion in his legs and feet, severely limiting his jumping ability.

It showed through the first three months of the season.

World Peace has managed to score in double figures in only 13 of the Lakers' first 59 games, but the fact that his three most productive games have come in the span of six days is a great sign for the Lakers moving forward.

If World Peace is healthy and contributing, he becomes a huge piece in a possible championship run.

That's big, as it gives every team in the Western Conference something else to worry about. Up until now, the combination of Matt Barnes, Devin Ebanks and World Peace has combined to average only 5.8 points per game on the season.

If World Peace is healthy and re-emerges as a double-figure scorer and Bryant comes back healthy, the Lakers without a doubt have the best starting five in the NBA and are a real threat to win the NBA championship.

The rest of the NBA needs to look out. World Peace might be back as a top-notch player.