Mar 19, 2010; Chicago, IL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West (13) is defended by Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2010; Chicago, IL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West (13) is defended by Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Delonte West is recognized as one of the NBA’s most tragic stories, having fallen on hard times after his career was cut short in 2012. However, during his playing days, the guard was prolific enough to garner attention from one of the league’s best.
West famously represented teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics during his seven-year NBA career. Still, his stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers as LeBron James‘ teammate is discussed more often.
Delonte West’s tenure in Cleveland began after being traded to the Cavaliers by the Seattle SuperSonics during the 2007-08 season. While speaking about joining the Cavs on a Kick livestream, West revealed that LeBron James recruited him during a game between Cleveland and Seattle. He shared:
“I was in Seattle, you know, half the year; at the end of the year, they went to Oklahoma. We were playing Cleveland out in Seattle like, you know, the first month of the season, and I was cooking. Then, I remember we were sitting at the foul line, and James, he was like, ‘Man, you know I’ve been, you know, I followed you in college.’ You know what I’m saying? He’s like, ‘You remember that time I came to Philly at the Palestra to watch you play?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I remember.'”
“He was like, ‘Man, you want to come play with Cleveland?’ I thought he was just doing a veteran trick,” West continued. “I thought he was just trying to get me out of my game by, you know, getting familiarity, but he was serious.”
Although Delonte West was apprehensive about LeBron James’ approach at first, the guard quickly found out that the Cavaliers’ superstar meant every word he said. After the idea of joining Cleveland was pitched to him during a game in Seattle, West was traded less than a month later. Needless to say, James moved quickly to ensure the guard would be on his team.
The move to Cleveland was also quite beneficial for Delonte West, who was now playing for a contender in the East. In his first season with the Cavs, the team came up short in the Eastern Conference semifinals after losing to the Boston Celtics, West’s former team. However, the guard’s averages of 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game during the 2007-08 regular season showcased his ability to contribute.
In the following season (2008-09), Delonte West turned things up a notch after earning a larger role as a starter. In 64 appearances, the guard posted 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 45.7% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range.
The Cavs benefited greatly from his performances, logging a 66-16 finish in the regular season. Unfortunately, their playoff run ended in the ECF, as they fell to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
Although Delonte West’s brief time in Cleveland had been promising, things took a turn after the 2008-09 season, as his personal struggles became more prominent. With an arrest in 2009 resulting in eight months of home detention and two months of probation, West’s dramatic dip in production eventually paved the way for his exit at the end of the campaign.
The last two years of Delonte West’s career were particularly underwhelming, as personal issues continued to plague the guard. Unfortunately, after the 2011-12 season, he found himself out of the league and eventually even out of a home.
Although West’s downfall was tragic, the former NBA player has been on a steady path to redeeming himself. From his commitment to sobriety to new ventures to help him get back on his feet, West seems to be turning things around. To that end, LeBron James’ continued support, even during the difficult times in West’s life, has been promising.