NBA owner's brilliant act for troubled former player Delonte West

Wed, 30 Sept 2020, 5:25 am·2-min read

A 50-50 image shows Delonte West on the streets in Dallas on the left, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on the right. — Former NBA player Delonte West, who was spotted on the streets in Texas, was picked up by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and checked into a rehab facility. Pictures: Twitter/Getty Images

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban personally picked up Delonte West at a Dallas-area petrol station on Monday in an attempt to help the former NBA player.

Cuban, according to TMZ and ESPN, had been trying to get in contact with West for days after photos of him panhandling in the Dallas area surfaced last week.

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He finally connected with West at a gas station and reportedly took him to a local hospital.

Cuban, along with West’s family and friends, have been trying to get him to go to a drug rehabilitation facility — something Cuban has offered to pay for.

West was seen panhandling in the area last week.

According to the Athletic’s Shams Charania, Cuban is making good on his promise to get West the help he needs. Cuban has reportedly reunited West with his mother, and then West took the important step of checking himself into rehab.

Mark Cuban reached out to Delonte West's mother, Delphina Addison, asking how he can help. Answer was simple: Find Delonte.

Cuban did on Monday, waited with West until his mother arrived to hotel, and West finally took step many close to him have awaited: Entered rehab. 🙏🏽 https://t.co/IiVKGH3a62
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 29, 2020

Mark Cuban is a real one! Picks up Delonte West from a gas station after videos surface of Delonte begging for money in Texas pic.twitter.com/CvsdxXAJa5
— Rare Hip-Hop Moments (@RareHHM) September 29, 2020

Delonte West struggling after latest incident

West played in the league for eight seasons from 2004-12, most notably with the Boston Celtics, who selected him No. 24 in the 2004 NBA draft.

He last played for the Mavericks in 2012, but was suspended twice and eventually waived.

He averaged 9.6 points and 3.6 assists throughout his career.

Delonte West is pictured playing in the NBA for the Dallas Mavericks. — Delonte West is pictured playing for the Dallas Mavericks in 2012. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN.

West revealed midway through his career that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, something he’s struggled with in recent years. He pleaded guilty to two weapons charges in 2010 and has been involved in several incidents since leaving the league.

He was spotted at a Houston-area fast food outlet in 2016 in rough shape, and again earlier this year in a string of disturbing videos.

West was seen being attacked in the middle of a Washington, D.C.-area street, and then again handcuffed while talking to police. West accused another man of pulling a gun on him.