By Mark Collins
Former NBA guard Delonte West has seen his fair share of hardships since playing his last professional game with the Dallas Mavericks G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, in 2015. The DMV baller, who played locally at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland, has dealt with homelessness, mental health and substance abuse issues and legal troubles.
But it looks like things may be finally starting to turn around for the former St. Joseph’s University standout.
According to TMZ, in 2020, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spent days trying to get in contact with West. Once Cuban was able to do so, West agreed to meet Cuban at a North Dallas gas station. From there, Cuban was able to reunite West with his mother and get him into treatment at The Rebound Center, a rehabilitation center in Florida, founded by former New Jersey Nets standout, Jayson Williams, who himself has dealt with his share of legal troubles and substance abuse.
On March 12th in DC, West participated in tryouts for the BIG3, a growing professional 3-on-3 basketball league founded by rapper, actor and film maker Ice Cube. West's tryout apparently went well as he was subsequently invited to the 2022 BIG3 Combine in Las Vegas on May 14th with a chance at landing a roster spot for the 2022 BIG3 season.
In addition to the assistance of Cuban and Williams, West, now 38, indicated that while in treatment, he attended church and bible study regularly – something that he didn’t do during his NBA career – and believes that It prepared him for his opportunity with the BIG3.
Over his NBA career, West averaged 9.7 points and 3.6 assists per game while playing for four different teams, the Dallas Mavericks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Seattle Supersonics and the Boston Celtics.
No word yet if West was able to secure a roster spot, but we wish him all the best.
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