Metta World Peace gave himself a headache cheering for Kobe Bryant

All Metta World Peace remembers from Kobe Bryant’s final game is that by the time it was over he had given himself a headache.

“I was animated even when he was missing, man,” World Peace said Thursday. “I figured if he is going to miss every shot, then I am going to cheer for him all night.”

World Peace suited up for the Lakers but did not play in Wednesday night’s regular-season finale at Staples Center.

Bryant started the game “looking like a bum,” according to World Peace, bouncing his first five shots off the rim.

But the next five went in and were followed eventually by 17 more. Bryant shot 22 of 50 from the floor and finished with 60 points in a 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz.

“I was like, ‘Wow, he has seven points in a couple minutes,’” said World Peace, Bryant’s teammate for five seasons. “Then it went to 10 and we were like, ‘He’s going to have 25 tonight,’ and then he had 25, I guess in the first half. We were like ‘Wow,’ it was amazing, and then I was just screaming.

“I just remember around the fourth quarter having a headache from screaming and jumping so loud. I mean jumping so high, I guess.”

World Peace, a 16-year pro, said he wanted to return next season, but that he wasn’t in a rush to determine if that was a possibility.

“It’s not that important right now and, honestly, I’m patient,” he said.

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