ANAHEIM – Prior to the start of the Lakers preseason opener against Sacramento, Metta World Peace performed the familiar ritual of pulling on his purple and gold No. 37 jersey.

It’s a number naturally associated with the former Lakers champion. He first wore it in 2009-10, before switching to No. 15 the following year. When he returned to the franchise last season, he reclaimed the number he has said he selected in honor of the 37 weeks Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album spent atop the Billboard charts.

But in his 17th NBA campaign, World Peace wanted to change it up once again.

“I so wanted that No. 60,” he said. “That’s all I was talking about, if I got back to the Lakers, was changing my number to 60.”

Why 60?

To honor Kobe Bryant’s final game on April 13, when the retiring superstar scored 60 points against the Utah Jazz.

“I was so honored to be there,” said World Peace, who played with Bryant from 2009-13, and again last season.

“I wanted to surprise him,” World Peace said of the tribute. “I was so honored to be there. But, whatever.”

The Lakers confirmed that World Peace requested the change when he signed his contract on Sept. 22. One problem: The league’s deadline for players to change their numbers had long passed.

“It’s Metta,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said, shrugging when asked about the request.

Over the course of his career, World Peace has also sported Nos. 23, 91, 93, 96 and 51. In 2011, he said he planned to switch to No. 70, but an ESPN.com report from the time said NBA rules precluded a player from changing his number too frequently.

Still, 60 would have fit right in.

World Peace will have to settle for 37 for at least the rest of this season. He might find comfort in the fact those digits will take on additional symbolism on Nov. 13, when he turns 37.

Age is just a number, after all.

“That’s pretty old,” World Peace said. “That seems young, but I don’t know. Actually it’s not. That (expletive) is old.”

Playing for the Lakers – with an average player age of 26.7, according to RealGM.com – keeps World Peace feeling young, he said.

“I make my kids some breakfast, doing the old dad stuff, and once I get to practice I immediately become like almost immature,” he said. “These guys are crazy.”

He added: “Let me tell you, last year I became more immature.”

World Peace was hailed as a valuable locker room leader as the Lakers finished 17-65 in Bryant’s final campaign, but also had bright moments on the floor, averaging 5 points in 35 games.

It would likely be more of the same this season, with World Peace the most senior player among a group of players he called “insanely fun.”

“You want to kind of be that leader,” he said, “but you want to fit in, too. You want to enjoy it.”

World Peace’s contract is not guaranteed, and with 20 players fighting for 15 spots on the regular-season roster, there is a chance the veteran won’t make the cut.

“A career is not infinity,” he said.

Robert Parish, Kevin Willis and Kevin Garnett all played 21 seasons, an NBA record.

“It’s going to come to an end,” World Peace said. “I know that for a fact. There’s no way I’m playing 40 years, or even 30 years. That’s crazy.”

He refuses to look toward the possible end.

“Today’s a good day,” he said. “So that’s that. When that time comes, address it then.”

World Peace has already tasted life away from the NBA, in 2013-14, when he played professionally in China and Italy.

“It’s not that I missed the game,” he said, “because I’m always around the game. So there’s really nothing to miss.”

He wouldn’t miss the schedule? The lifestyle

“It don’t matter,” he said, “I’ll always have a ball in my hand.”

Given his knack for sticking around, perhaps World Peace will have an opportunity to switch up his number another year.

“If I’m back,” he said. “We’ll see how my body feels. I know I’m having a good time.”

Contact the writer: boram@scng.com