Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Delonte West (13) argues a call with the referee during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Warriors 104-94.
Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Delonte West (13) argues a call with the referee during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Warriors 104-94.
Former NBA player Delonte West has said that LeBron James and his mother, Gloria, have supported him during the most difficult moments of his life.
Speaking recently on Kick streamer Neon’s livestream, the former NBA guard spoke about the support he has received from people he played with, mentioning LeBron and his family as well.
“A lot of those guys that I play with, LeBron, he’s my ‘him’, and you know his family…called my mom all the time to make sure I’m okay. Miss James, Miss Gloria, she calls my mom, makes sure she’s still the same. ‘Tell my son I seen him. He better get it together. Don’t make me come check on him.'”
These comments are particularly meaningful considering how long it has been since West and LeBron shared an NBA locker room.
West joined the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2007-08 season and became a member of the teams built around LeBron. The guard offered shooting, defense, and secondary playmaking as the Cavaliers became one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Across eight NBA seasons, West averaged 9.7 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game, playing for the Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, and Dallas Mavericks.
But his life after basketball has been very difficult.
West has dealt with several highly publicized struggles with homelessness, addiction, and mental health. His condition has generated concern from former NBA players, fans, and owners, as videos and photos of him have gone viral over the years.
There have also been some encouraging recent developments. Earlier this year, West revealed that he had reached 30 days sober while continuing his recovery. He later shared an even bigger milestone, announcing that he had reached 100 days of sobriety in a touching social media update.
His journey has always been very complicated, but the progress he has made recently is very encouraging. And that’s why this revelation about LeBron James and his family stands out.
Rumors and speculation have surrounded West and LeBron’s family for years, but these latest comments solely focus on their support and compassion. Even long after their time as teammates ended, West says that LeBron and Gloria James continue to check on him through his mother.
And for West, having people from an important chapter of his life still reaching out to make sure he is doing well seems to have mattered during a period when he is trying to rebuild his life.