How much is Delonte West worth now?
| Net Worth: | $500 Dollars |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Basketball Player |
| Date of Birth: | July 26, 1983 (age 39) |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
About Delonte West
Delonte West is a former professional basketball player who played 9 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 4 different teams, the Boston Celtics, Seattle Sonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dallas Mavericks. Delonte West’s career earnings are estimated at about $14 million adjusted for inflation, according to HoopsHype. Yet in 2020, it was reported that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban got him off the street where Delonte had been living, and paid for his rehab.
West’s most successful season was the 2008-2009 season when he averaged 11.7 points, 3.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and shot nearly 40% on 3pt field goals. He was a part of 5 different playoff appearances during his career, most notably the 2008-2009 Cleveland Cavaliers who made the eastern conference finals before losing to the Orlando Magic.
Before his NBA career, Delonte West played college basketball for St. Joseph’s University along with another former NBA player, Jameer Nelson. During the 2003-2004 collegiate season, West and Nelson combined to average nearly 40 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, and 4.5 steals per game, an incredible combination that electrified college basketball. West and Nelson helped lead St. Joseph’s to an impressive 30-2 record, falling just short of an appearance in the final four when they lost to Oklahoma State in the regional final.
However, according to Wikipedia, during his teen years West states that he abused drugs, engaged in self-harm, and spent time in children’s hospitals. This would later come back to haunt him after he struck it rich in the NBA.
Delonte West was famous primarily for his role on the 2003-2004 St. Joseph’s men’s college basketball team, and his role contributing alongside Lebron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers during 3 different playoff runs. However today he has become far more famous for being featured on a TMZ video where horribly he was shown being beaten on a Washington, DC highway.
Then less than one year later, he made headlines again when billionaire Mavericks owner Mark Cuban managed to get West off the street and into a rehab center. He is currently working at the rehab center as a January 19, 2021, report.
Rewind, and Delonte West was a major part of one of most successful St. Joseph’s men’s basketball teams in history, averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 steals, all while shooting an impressive 51% from the field and 89% from the free-throw line. St. Joseph’s 30-2 record was the best in the history of the school which spans over a century, and their appearance in the regional final of the NCAA tournament was their longest tournament run in over two decades.
West also excelled playing alongside Lebron James for 3 consecutive seasons, all of which resulted in successful playoff appearances. Because Lebron James dominates possession of the basketball for a large percentage of a team’s possession, teams must have good outside shooters to place around him who can hit open jump shots. West fit this mold perfectly, shooting nearly 38% from 3 point range during his time with the Cavaliers.
The high point of his career came during 14 playoff games with the Cavaliers in the 2008-2009 postseason when West averaged nearly 14 points a game functioning as a reliable outside shooter for Lebron James during many high-pressure situations. As mentioned however, this all changed for him as struggled with addiction again as he had done in his youth.
In February 2016, West was photographed in a public place in Houston, Texas while barefoot and wearing a hospital gown. In June 2016, a photo of West panhandling in Temple Hills, Maryland went viral. The photo sparked speculation that West was homeless, as the Twitter account that broke the photo suggested as such and asked his followers to pray for West given his psychological issues.
West immediately denied the rumors, stating that, while the photo is genuine, he was a home and was merely assisting someone who actually was homeless, since the homeless man was quadriplegic, according to Wikipedia.
Then in January 2020, West was featured in the disturbing TMZ video, before being rescued by Cuban and now seems to be on the path of recovery. LeBron James also has offered help and support.
While many professional athletes amass their fortune with a combination of contracts, endorsements, and investments, West earned most of his money almost exclusively from the contracts he signed with 4 different teams during his career. He earned almost $14 million during his 9-year career, most of which came from his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The most money that Delonte West made during a single season from his player contracts was $4.25 million with the Cavaliers during the 2009-2010 season.
Delonte West was incredibly successful because of his ability to play alongside elite, ball-dominant players, both in college and the NBA. Although he was one of the best college basketball players during the 2003-2004 season at St. Joseph’s, West played off the ball and let Jameer Nelson handle the ball the majority of the time. This was the key to West’ success, instead of hogging the ball and trying to be the main shooter, he was incredible at making assists. This is what won his admiration from the likes of LeBron James. Because, at the end of the day, Delonte West could not compete head of head with him as the shooter, but could help him and that really paid off.
West excelled at this role while playing with Lebron James for 3 seasons, functioning as one of the most reliable shooters that Lebron James could rely on from 2008 to 2010.
Summing-Up
Delonte West was a former professional basketball player that played for 9 seasons for 4 different teams in the NBA. Before his NBA career, West enjoyed large amounts of success at the collegiate level, helping lead St. Joseph’s to their best regular-season record in school history in 2003-2004. He was able to amass a fortune of just over $16 million after taxes as a professional, learning to excel alongside Lebron James for 3 different playoff runs. However this all changed for him when life took a turn of events that ended West on the street. As of 2023, Delonte West’s net worth is estimated to be $500 dollars.
Despite having recently suffered personal adversity, being shown on a TMZ video being beaten up for example, he has had extremely powerful people come to his aid. Both Mark Cuban and LeBron James have helped him and given West another chance at life. Peace go with you, brother.
