LeBron James' former teammate Delonte now living on streets and asking for money
Basketball
By
Odero Charles
| Sep 29, 2020
LeBron James' former teammate and Ex-NBA star Delonte Maurice West was last week photographed by fans in Dallas asking for money while wandering around homeless.
West, who's no longer with the NBA, admittedly struggles with mental illness and substance abuse, and his recent hardships in Texas, have been documented across the internet holding a small cardboard sign asking for money.
In January, the 37-year-old was seen living on the streets where a video of him being brutally attacked went viral.
In February, he was also photographed wearing a hospital gown, barefoot, while standing in public in Houston, Texas.
He reportedly earned over $16 million (sh1.7billion) during his nine-year career, which ended after his only season with the Mavericks in 2011-2012, when he was just 28.
In response to his latest photo, friends and family expressed concern for his well-being among them was Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who was filmed Monday picking up West at a gas station in a viral video first reported by TMZ Sports.
Cuban confirmed to ESPN's Tim MacMahon that he is attempting to help West get his life back on track.
Per The Athletic's Shams Charania, Cuban reunited West with his mother, Delphina Addison, in Dallas on Monday and West has now checked into a rehab center in Florida.
“A Delonte West update, as people close to the ex-NBA player going through very difficult personal struggle continue to offer help: Sources say Mavs owner Mark Cuban reunited West with his mother in Dallas on Monday—and now West has checked into rehab facility in Florida,” Charania tweeted.
A Delonte West update, as people close to the ex-NBA player going through very difficult personal struggle continue to offer help: Sources say Mavs owner Mark Cuban reunited West with his mother in Dallas on Monday — and now West has checked into rehab facility in Florida.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 29, 2020
In 2008, West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but in the years since, he’s made it a point to refute his diagnosis.
West, a point guard and shooting guard, played for the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, and most recently, the Mavericks.