Delonte West really is broke (and was temporarily homeless...)

[Roy H.]

A lot of people thought that Delonte took a job at a furniture store as a gimmick, but it sounds like the guy is having some financial (and emotional) problems:

Delonte West is quite possibly the first active NBA player to be without a home during a season. The Mavericks guard tells the Dallas Morning News that after arriving in the Lone Star State he couldn't find a place to stay, so he spent nights sleeping in the Mavs locker room and even in his car.

Let us explain.

West suffers from bipolar disorder, which causes extreme mood swings. In 2009, he was pulled over near his Maryland home on a three-wheeled Cam-Am Spyder motorcycle, and police found a 9mm Beretta pistol, .357 Magnum and a Remington 870 in a guitar case. West pleaded guilty to weapons and traffic charges, but was able to avoid jail; instead he got electronic monitoring and supervised probation and counseling.

Additionally, West was dealing with the end of his four-month marriage. He feels his mental disorder is at least partially responsible for both his personal and legal problems. "I’ve watched contracts go out the window, endorsements disappear, court fees, lawyer fees, divorce fees," he told the Morning News. "You watch the saving account just shoop ... shoop ... shoop ...

Despite making more than $14 million in a career that began in 2004, West has lost just about everything. During the NBA's labor dispute, he took a job at a Maryland furniture store.

West had to sell vehicles, jewelry and "just about everything I own, except for my house and the clothes on my back," he told the Dallas Morning News.

After joining the Mavericks, the team gave him a hotel room during a very brief training camp. However, once the regular season got started, NBA salary cap rules blocked the team from providing housing for West. He said he tried to rent apartments around North Texas yet failed, because they were either too expensive or he wasn't allowed because of his legal troubles.

So West would get a hotel room when the Mavericks were on the road, but when they came back to Dallas late after road trips, he had no place to stay. So rather than getting a hotel room for just a few hours, he would sleep in the American Airlines Center locker room area or park his truck in the arena players garage and rest.

West told the Morning News his outrageous living situation didn't last long after his boss found out about it. "Soon as Mr. Cuban heard about that, he made one phone call and everybody was lining up to rent me an apartment," West laughed. "They were calling back saying, 'Hey, we’ve got the penthouse suite for you.'"

The Mavericks are paying West $854,389 this season, while three therapists help him deal with his bipolar disorder.

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201202/nbas-homeless-player

My first reaction, after hearing that Delonte is going through money that quickly, is that he's got too many "friends" and hangers-on around.  He needs to hire a good financial adviser, and be put on a monthly allowance.   

[Kiorrik]

Yeah, I read rumors about him sleeping in his car before... sad how things can go down the drain if you've got no *real* friends.

[Neurotic Guy]

Good for Mark Cuban.  DWest has an illness and needs folks in his life to provide real support --- maybe not all the time or for always (depending on how well his treatment goes and how his body chemistry changes over time), but consistently.  He doesn't need 'friends' who will take advantage of him, or presume he's fine because he looks OK today.  He seems like a bright guy and I hope he lives long enough to learn how to manage his mental health.  But I doubt he'll ever be in the position where he is not in need of supportive friends, co-workers and family.   

[PosImpos]

A lot of people thought that Delonte took a job at a furniture store as a gimmick, but it sounds like the guy is having some financial (and emotional) problems:

Delonte West is quite possibly the first active NBA player to be without a home during a season. The Mavericks guard tells the Dallas Morning News that after arriving in the Lone Star State he couldn't find a place to stay, so he spent nights sleeping in the Mavs locker room and even in his car.

Let us explain.

West suffers from bipolar disorder, which causes extreme mood swings. In 2009, he was pulled over near his Maryland home on a three-wheeled Cam-Am Spyder motorcycle, and police found a 9mm Beretta pistol, .357 Magnum and a Remington 870 in a guitar case. West pleaded guilty to weapons and traffic charges, but was able to avoid jail; instead he got electronic monitoring and supervised probation and counseling.

Additionally, West was dealing with the end of his four-month marriage. He feels his mental disorder is at least partially responsible for both his personal and legal problems. "I’ve watched contracts go out the window, endorsements disappear, court fees, lawyer fees, divorce fees," he told the Morning News. "You watch the saving account just shoop ... shoop ... shoop ...

Despite making more than $14 million in a career that began in 2004, West has lost just about everything. During the NBA's labor dispute, he took a job at a Maryland furniture store.

West had to sell vehicles, jewelry and "just about everything I own, except for my house and the clothes on my back," he told the Dallas Morning News.

After joining the Mavericks, the team gave him a hotel room during a very brief training camp. However, once the regular season got started, NBA salary cap rules blocked the team from providing housing for West. He said he tried to rent apartments around North Texas yet failed, because they were either too expensive or he wasn't allowed because of his legal troubles.

So West would get a hotel room when the Mavericks were on the road, but when they came back to Dallas late after road trips, he had no place to stay. So rather than getting a hotel room for just a few hours, he would sleep in the American Airlines Center locker room area or park his truck in the arena players garage and rest.

West told the Morning News his outrageous living situation didn't last long after his boss found out about it. "Soon as Mr. Cuban heard about that, he made one phone call and everybody was lining up to rent me an apartment," West laughed. "They were calling back saying, 'Hey, we’ve got the penthouse suite for you.'"

The Mavericks are paying West $854,389 this season, while three therapists help him deal with his bipolar disorder.

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201202/nbas-homeless-player

My first reaction, after hearing that Delonte is going through money that quickly, is that he's got too many "friends" and hangers-on around.  He needs to hire a good financial adviser, and be put on a monthly allowance.   

Yeah, I'd be really concerned that he could end up like Toine.

[TitleMaster]

Yeah, I read rumors about him sleeping in his car before... sad how things can go down the drain if you've got no *real* friends.

I think he'd kept his homeless situation to himself. And he probably didn't use Craigslist, since many of those apartment shares don't have background checks, because he didn't want to be publicly identified.

This reminds me of a prior job, where an engineer was sleeping in his car because his wife kicked him out. He'd camped overnight in the parking garage, because he didn't ask any of his co-workers for assistance. Well, that went on for a few months unless security caught wind of him and he was asked to leave after midnight, every day.

[stb]

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201202/nbas-homeless-player

[33_Larry Legend_33]

It's very hard to feel sorry for a wealthy NBA player who blows a TON of money.  One has to be wise with their finances, and I've seen people making $20K with more financial stability than one making $2M...

[pearljammer10]

I just dont understand...

If i had 14 million dolars, there is no way, not even a chance that i would go bankrupt.

[wahz]

He

I just dont understand...

If i had 14 million dolars, there is no way, not even a chance that i would go bankrupt.

he doesn't have or didn't have 14 million dollars at any ONE point. Which I think you know. He didn't blow that much. He did blow a huge amount that we can only wag at..it may have even been more over time. Whatever it was it was a lot and yeah he was in no position to deal with having that responsibility. Im surprised it doesn't happen more.

Im a kid, I get 5 mill a year. My taxes and union dues are 40% including state and federal and sales later. My agent gets 10%. A buy house worth 4 million and Im making 25000 a month payments. I buy my mom a BIG house and car for 1.5 cash. Im paying her re taxes and mine.I pay for tens of thousands of vacation entertainment for me and friends.and so on and so on.
I am divorcing or paying off girlfriends to go away......

[guava_wrench]

I just dont understand...

If i had 14 million dolars, there is no way, not even a chance that i would go bankrupt.

Don't confuse declaring bankruptcy with having no money. You can easily go bankrupt by having good business investments that don't pan out for whatever reason. Donald Trump declares bankruptcy all the time.

Delonte has no money.

[Celtics4ever]

If i had 14 million dolars, there is no way, not even a chance that i would go bankrupt.

Bipolar's can be very impulsive when it comes to several areas.  Unfortunately, one of these is money.

[Jeff]

feel for him

good for Cuban

[Eja117]

You'd think the NBA would have good health care so he can get meds and whatnot. Then they need to consider a rep payee who pays his bills and gives him a small amount of spending money. Otherwise he'll buy guns and tattoos. It's pretty clear he has made some horrid horrid decisions. He may need some sort of guardian.  Mike Vick was in a similar situation, but it was different for different reasons, but made a huge difference.

[LB3533]

I just dont understand...

If i had 14 million dolars, there is no way, not even a chance that i would go bankrupt.

I am pretty sure if you had a lot of money, your standards of living would change and the expectations from the ones around you will also change.

When I got my first bonus, I treated my parents and family to a more than normal expensive dinner out.

Imagine if I were pro athlete rich, it wouldn't be that hard to spend wads of cash just on food alone.

[Finkelskyhook]

IMHO....The worst thing that happened to West was when he served no time for the weapons charge.

A little accountability would teach him something.  Or at least give him incentive to get consistent treatment.