Catching up with an old friend - Delonte West status

[Bombastic Jones]

Long but interesting article.

[D.o.s.]

TP. Excellent Read.

[Greenbean]

Nice! TP.

[Greenbean]

Sorry for the double post but I gotta say, the article focuses mostly on mental health and the perception of various disorders in the NBA costing players jobs. I dont really agree with that angle on Delonte specifically. If Delonte could stay healthy every year, I almost guarantee he would be in the NBA.

[badshar]

Really hope he gets another chance in the NBA. Would love to have him back on the Celtics. He was a solid point guard who could score and pass.

[D.o.s.]

Sorry for the double post but I gotta say, the article focuses mostly on mental health and the perception of various disorders in the NBA costing players jobs. I dont really agree with that angle on Delonte specifically. If Delonte could stay healthy every year, I almost guarantee he would be in the NBA.

I don't know about that, but I think it's close to fifty percent of one and half a dozen of the other.

Also, I wonder who else fills out this list:

Danny Ainge, who drafted the St. Joseph?s star for the Boston Celtics, told me that in his 35 years in the NBA, West is among the top five players he's "ever been around in terms of competiveness."

[D.o.s.]

Another salient point:

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge told me that the Celtics considered bringing West back during the 2012?2013 season and that if Boston had been a contending team this season?they finished well out of the playoff chase?he would have considered it again. He also said that while West is one of his ?favorite guys,? he was ?higher maintenance? than he would prefer. Ainge doesn?t think that players get ?blackballed,? but he acknowledged that off-the-court issues can follow you around, and teams get scared away from signing certain players.

[Lucky17]

Asked early in his career what he did in his spare time, West, who studied art in college and was serious about painting, said, ?I like to paint murals of the ocean that I see beyond the horizon, because I feel if?in order for us to grow, we gotta know. In order to love the brother man, you gotta know the other man. One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Knick knack, paddy whack, give a dog a bone. Ding.?

[D.o.s.]

In conversation, West is quick and can be very funny, with an off-kilter sense of humor that can throw off earnest media types used to the more staid interview styles of his athlete brethren.

[Greenbean]

Sorry for the double post but I gotta say, the article focuses mostly on mental health and the perception of various disorders in the NBA costing players jobs. I dont really agree with that angle on Delonte specifically. If Delonte could stay healthy every year, I almost guarantee he would be in the NBA.

I don't know about that, but I think it's close to fifty percent of one and half a dozen of the other.

Also, I wonder who else fills out this list:

Danny Ainge, who drafted the St. Joseph?s star for the Boston Celtics, told me that in his 35 years in the NBA, West is among the top five players he's "ever been around in terms of competiveness."

Oh exactly....like if he was just injury prone, I think a team would have him on their roster. If he just had the off court issues, I bet a team would have him on their roster. But there are two glaring red flags for any team trying to sign him.

For every Delonte West or Lamar Odom, there is a Ron Artest. Guys who are very high maintennance in terms of personality but always find themselves on a roster because they are dependable on the court.


And oh yeah...I want to see Ainge's "compeititve guys" list. If it wasnt his own list, he might be on it!

[GreenWarrior]

anyone remember the piece fox sports did on him? when he was talking about his sock that he used to play with?

[bdm860]

I'm just disappointed they didn't slip one of my favorite Delonte stories in there.  Courtesy of Shaq's book:

Our coach, Mike Brown, was a nice guy, but he had to live on edge because nobody was supposed to be confrontational with LeBron. Nobody wanted him to leave Cleveland, so he was allowed to do whatever he wanted to do.

I remember one day in a film session LeBron didn't get back on defense after a missed shot. Mike Brown didn't say anything about it. He went to the next clip and it was Mo Williams not getting back and Mike was saying, "Yo, Mo, we can't have that. You've got to hustle a little more." So Delonte West is sitting there and he's seen enough and he stands up and says, "Hold up, now. You can't be Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.footing around like that. Everyone has to be accountable for what they do, not just some us." Mike Brown said, "I know, Delonte. I know." Mike knew Delonte was right.

This, combined with the competitive nature written about in the article, his unselfish, team first style of play, plus the skill and cerebral game we all know he has, I think would make him a perfect addition to any team not looking to tank, from contender to those with young studs trying to make the playoffs.

Makes me wonder how bad the other issues are, and the "higher maintenance" Ainge mentioned, if he's not getting any offers.

[the_Bird]

Sorry for the double post but I gotta say, the article focuses mostly on mental health and the perception of various disorders in the NBA costing players jobs. I dont really agree with that angle on Delonte specifically. If Delonte could stay healthy every year, I almost guarantee he would be in the NBA.

I don't know about that, but I think it's close to fifty percent of one and half a dozen of the other.

Also, I wonder who else fills out this list:

Danny Ainge, who drafted the St. Joseph?s star for the Boston Celtics, told me that in his 35 years in the NBA, West is among the top five players he's "ever been around in terms of competiveness."

Legend is #1.
KG's in there.
Pierce might be, too.

Depends on what he means by players he's "been around."  Would that include Jordan or Kobe, or just guys he's been teammates, coached, or had on his roster? 

[guava_wrench]

Sorry for the double post but I gotta say, the article focuses mostly on mental health and the perception of various disorders in the NBA costing players jobs. I dont really agree with that angle on Delonte specifically. If Delonte could stay healthy every year, I almost guarantee he would be in the NBA.

I don't know about that, but I think it's close to fifty percent of one and half a dozen of the other.

Also, I wonder who else fills out this list:

Danny Ainge, who drafted the St. Joseph?s star for the Boston Celtics, told me that in his 35 years in the NBA, West is among the top five players he's "ever been around in terms of competiveness."

Legend is #1.
KG's in there.
Pierce might be, too.

Depends on what he means by players he's "been around."  Would that include Jordan or Kobe, or just guys he's been teammates, coached, or had on his roster?

Bird and KG, sure. I don't think Pierce is on the same level. West goes 100% every play. He will risk his body every play if needed. Pierce will take many plays off. Competitiveness is more than trash talking and confidence. Delonte seems like he cannot bear any shot going in for the opponent. Delonte never gives up on plays.

[Celtics4ever]

He got into James head like a true Celtic for us!

Sad story but the on the court greatness that it hints at is missing.  He was a good player but not a great one.   

It's too late to fight the battle he is presenting.  He should have challenged the rumors and the diagnosis when it happened.  Now it is the stuff of urban legend.

Still there is something wrong about a guy carrying a shotgun in a guitar case not to mention it is illegal.  Who does he think he is Whitey Bulger?