For World Peace, that means playing hard — even after having surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee March 28. The team originally expected him to be sidelined for about six weeks. He returned to the lineup after 12 days. He missed six games.

Whether returning that quickly was an act of madness or a minor medical miracle (“I’m not going to let you know the formula,” he said), World Peace’s teammates were excited to have him back. The Lakers are 4-0 since his return, and he has averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds. Every bit helps, now more than ever.

“Just an unbelievable teammate,” Jamison said. “All he does is compete.”

On Sunday, in their first game without Kobe Bryant, whose season ended last week when he ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon, the Lakers cobbled together enough moxie to edge the Spurs, 91-86. World Peace played 29 minutes and was an active presence. He scored 8 points, despite missing all five of his 3-point attempts, and his 14-foot runner gave the Lakers their first lead of the fourth quarter. He also elevated over the Spurs’ Tim Duncan for a spectacular left-handed dunk.

“I was trying to test my legs out, see what was going on, see where I’m at,” World Peace said. “Every day, I feel stronger and stronger, and I actually was able to sprint. My wind is catching up. Perfect timing, perfect timing.”

World Peace was not always so even-keeled. When he played at St. John’s, any slight — perceived or real — could set him off, according to Fran Fraschilla, one of his former coaches. At practice, Fraschilla would sometimes have him play with the team’s second unit. This annoyed World Peace.

“He would turn an average practice into a great practice, because he would take the walk-ons and drive the starters nuts,” Fraschilla said in a telephone interview. “All because I had embarrassed him. I used to do it on purpose. I knew he would stir the pot. He made everyone else ultracompetitive.”

Deep into his professional career, World Peace still appears to have the same drive, though there is less of an obvious edge. He used to be liable to rip a television set off a locker-room wall; now he counsels teammates and returns from surgery four weeks ahead of schedule.