The Lakers' practice on the Bankers Life Fieldhouse practice court had just ended with structured shooting drills, to the accompaniment of Al Green's music, when Metta World Peace rushed out a back door.
He was on a mission. Racing upstairs, along familiar paths, he headed straight for the offices of Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird. After a few minutes of how-are-you-good-to-see-you greetings and casual small talk, he returned to rejoin his Laker teammates.
That was on Oct. 31, the day before the Lakers met the Pacers in the second week of the NBA season, but it just as easily could have been any other time.