The NBA is the pinnacle of professional basketball. Every young hooper aspires to play in the NBA one day. People might think once a person has made it at the NBA level, then he is set for life. But that statement can’t be further from the truth, as there are many cautionary tales of players going broke after making it in the NBA. The pressure surrounding players is immense and they have to deal with constant criticism and vitriol from fans and analysts alike.

One such player whose life has gone off the rails is Delonte West. West played in the NBA from 2004 to 2012, he represented teams like the Celtics, Sonics, Cavaliers, and the Mavs.

LeBron Saved West’s Life

Delonte West had a rollercoaster NBA career marked by flashes of brilliance and personal challenges. The Boston Celtics drafted him in 2004, but the Celtics traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics for Ray Allen in 2007. West gained a reputation for his versatility and tenacity on the court, which led to him representing teams like the Cavaliers and the Mavs. Though, it was his stint in Cleveland that the 40-year-old remembers fondly.

West played for the Cavs from 2008 to 2010 and in that period West credited LeBron for saving his life. In an interview in 2015, West opened up about his struggles leading up to the 2008 season. At that point in time, West was facing criminal charges, and he wasn’t in the right space of mind to train. He asked then-coach, Mike Brown, for his permission to leave the camp and visit his home state of Maryland to clear his mind.

Coach Brown allowed him to leave and, as he was about to leave, LeBron sat him down for a talk. West recalled, “He sat with me in the locker room for like an hour and was rapping it up with me by giving me words of encouragement. He later walked me down the stairs and said, ‘D, I don’t know where you’re going or what you’re about to do, but I’ll be right here when you get back”. He added further, “My spirits were so high at that point. I don’t know what would have happened had I left in the condition I was in prior. It’s a testament to the type of person he is”.

Delonte West’s Struggles

Delonte West earned millions while he was playing in the NBA. But after he stopped playing in the NBA, his earnings depleted, and soon after he went broke. West battled substance abuse and mental health disorders throughout his NBA career. Teammates and friends like Jameer Nelson helped him with medications, but his situation didn’t get any better.

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Mavs owner Mark Cuban also has helped West a lot. He paid the bills for West’s rehabilitation at the Rebound Institute in 2020. But less than a month after leaving rehab in October 2021, Florida police arrested West for banging on police officers’ doors. West’s story is a reminder of the complexities faced by professional athletes. Shedding light on the importance of mental health awareness and support within the sports industry.

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