Delonte West played eight seasons in the NBA after being selected 24th overall in the 2004 draft. In 2008, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition that would shadow the rest of his career. His struggles only deepened after his NBA career ended in 2012, as he battled substance abuse and faced run-ins with the law.
However, several people have supported him through these tough times, including LeBron James’ mother, Gloria James.
LeBron James’ Mother Routinely Checks on Delonte West’s Well-Being
After retiring from the NBA in 2012, West unfortunately made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He was arrested at least five times while dealing with substance abuse and mental health struggles, with charges such as assault and robbery (using force) being levied against him.
As it turns out, West revealed in a recent interview with content creator N3on that James’ family supported him.
“[LeBron’s family] calls my mom all the time to make sure I’m okay. Ms. Gloria, she calls my mom … make sure she’s still the same, ‘Tell my son I see him. You better get it together. Don’t make me come check on him,'” West said with a smile.
It certainly is a welcome sight to see the 43-year-old with a smile on his face. He has suffered many hardships over the past few years. West’s bipolar diagnosis affected his stability on and off the court.
He played with James for three seasons but not until the middle of his career. West spent three seasons at the Boston Celtics, averaging a career-high of 12.2 points per game in 2006-07. Boston then traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics in the deal for Ray Allen before the 2007-08 season.
Seattle moved him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008, where he established himself as an important backcourt piece alongside James. In fact, West’s best seasons came in Cleveland, where he averaged 10.3 points, 3.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 150 regular-season contests.
The 6-foot-3 guard may not have been the strongest or tallest player on the court. However, he developed a strong reputation for never giving up on a play. He consistently dove for loose balls and hounded guards defensively to create steals for easy buckets in transition.
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West battled homelessness and addiction after retiring from basketball, despite earning over $16 million in his NBA career. He played his final season with the Dallas Mavericks. And while he may still struggle, West undoubtedly looks like he has turned a new leaf.
