Metta World Peace to raffle off trophy for what he calls ‘family defense’

Metta World Peace is doing it again, turning his back on his past persona to raise funds for a noble cause.

He wants to raise $2 million by raffling off the trophy he won in 2003-04 as the NBA’s defensive player of the year. He will donate the money toward what he called “family defense.”

“Mainly, we’re targeting little boys to become good partners and good fathers,” he said Sunday. “A lot of kids learn… how to call girls ‘b’s’ and ‘h’s.’ What about learning how to be a good father and be a good partner?”

World Peace raised about $671,000 for mental-health causes in 2010 by raffling off the championship ring he won a few months earlier with the Lakers. He subsequently won the NBA award for citizenship, further distancing himself from the “Malice at the Palace” brawl in which he was a central figure in 2004.

He will soon be a little lighter in memorabilia. He doesn’t care.

“I won’t have the ring or the trophy,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. No second thoughts.”

World Peace, 35, is trying to survive the final roster cut for the Lakers after not playing in the NBA last season. World Peace or second-year guard Jabari Brown will be released Monday to get down to the 15-player limit, Lakers Coach Byron Scott said.