You probably know who Delonte West is, not just by his status as an ex-basketball player, but by his tragic story that is still told by many. He was once a decorated basketball player with a ton of promise, which is why you won’t be able to believe what his net worth is today!
For those who are not familiar with who this man is, Delonte Maurice West was a professional basketball player from the National Basketball Association. He played for various top teams, such as the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, and the Seattle SuperSonics. Furthermore, he played professionally for the teams of the Chinese Basketball Association (the Fujian Xunxing and Shanghai Sharks), as well as the NBA G Leagues with Texas Legends.
Read on to learn more about his life, career, and how much he’s currently worth.
Early Life and Personal Life
Delonte West is multiracial, having African American, European American, and Piscataway Native American heritage.
He describes his childhood as “happy poor”, living with different relatives. Unfortunately, he was known to abuse drugs during his teen years, as well as engage in self-harm. Because of this, he spent some time in children’s hospitals. It may have also been a factor in his diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2008.
While West accepted the diagnosis initially, he then disputed it and suggested that he only had difficulties from the combination of temporary depressions and the usual stressors as a basketball player.
However, things were taking a turn for the worse. In 2009, Delonte was pulled over due to a traffic violation while riding his motorcycle. He was then discovered to possess three guns, which led to his arrest and court appearance two months later. While the case was contested, he was pleaded guilty to traffic and weapons charges, sentenced to unsupervised probation, 40 hours of community service, electronic monitoring, and psychological counseling.
Also, while Delonte West was able to purchase homes for parents, as well as provide financial support for the family, he experienced financial difficulties. During his NBA lockout in 2011, he worked at a furniture store.
He has also been in marital issues, with his first marriage ending in divorce in 2010. He then remarried in 2013, where he now has two sons.
Fast forward to February 2016, a photograph of West was circulating online, where he was barefoot and wearing a. Hospital gown. Then in June 2016, he was also photographed panhandling in Maryland, with that photo going viral. West denied any allegations that he was homeless with psychological issues but merely assisting a homeless person who was quadriplegic.
Then in January 2020, this time, a video surfaced, which showed West being beaten up in Washington DC. And just recently, in September 2020, photos of him have surfaced, panhandling again in Dallas, Texas.
Fortunately, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban picked West up in a gas station, providing West a hotel room, and offered to cover expenses for rehabilitation.
Delonte West’s Career
Before his colorful career as a basketball player, Delonte West started his passion in high school. He went to the Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland, which is where he began and excelled in basketball.
He even teamed with future NBA player Eddie Basden, leading the Raiders to the team’s first-ever state tournament appearance. The team even made it to the championship, though they lost. However, he was awarded the Washington Post All Met Basketball Player of the Year, thanks to his averages, rebounds, assists, and steals in every game.
He then went on to Saint Joseph’s University, then formed the best backcourt in the United States. Because of his amazing plays, he earned an Elite Eight appearance in an NCSS tournament, and his team finished a season at 30-2.
West left St. Joseph’s after his junior campaign, he was selected by the Boston Celtics in 20014. During the first season, he suffered from injuries, playing only 39 games coming from the bench. But as he made the transition top point guard during the rookie season, he was then starting point guard during the 2005-2006 season thanks to Doc Rivers, the team’s head coach.
He moved to Seattle SuperSonics for the 2007-2008 season, then the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2008-2010 season. After LeBron James left the Cavs and signed with Miami Heat, the Cavs traded West to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2010. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves would waive West shortly after the acquisition.
He then returned to the Bolton Celtics for 2010-2011, eventually moving to the Dallas Mavericks in December 2011-2012. Unfortunately, Delonte West was indefinitely suspended due to an argument after his team’s preseason loss. While reinstated after a day, he was suspended again due to the same reason, then was waived from the team.
He has then joined other basketball associations and teams, with his final team being the Texas Legends from NBA D-League. However, West was waived by the team due to his season-ending injury.
Delonte West’s Age, Height, and Weight
Delonte West was born on July 26, 1983. He is currently 37 years old and stands tall at 6’2, weighing 183 pounds.
Delonte West’s Net Worth and Salary
Even with a flourishing basketball career in the past, it was not able to save him from hitting rock bottom. This may have been due to losing money from his first divorce and other charges.
Today, Delonte West Net Worth is only around $1,000. While he used to earn $14 million in salary, things went downhill after drugs and other issues.
Delonte West’s Favorite Quotes
Here are a few quotes from Delonte West:
“My job is to play basketball. As far as bringing other guys in, that’s up to the guys upstairs. I understand that the biggest thing for everyone is to improve this team for next year.”
“My sanctuary, my place of peace, became the joke of my life,”
And that was Delonte West and his net worth for you, hope you learned a thing or two about this ex-basketball player. Do you want to learn more about other celebrities’ net worth and lives? Check out more around our website!