Video Shows Delonte West Being Assaulted on the DC streets

[soxhop411]

Mental health issues are no joke. And I hope the NBA can do something to get him the help he needs:
View: https://twitter.com/damani_givens/status/1219409909827149825

View: https://twitter.com/N90sKindOfWorld/status/1219339349843763203



https://www.complex.com/sports/2020/01/video-appears-to-show-former-nba-player-delonte-west-following-alleged-altercation
Article with more info and some quotes from athletes across sports.

 

[JCizzle]

This is heartbreaking to see. I saw that Jameer Nelson is trying to find a way to help him, I hope he’s able to make something happen. Mental illness is so damn sad.

 

[tmracht]

This is so sad. Phil Martelli is also trying to get him help. Hopefully all the people reaching out can make an impact.

 

[Devizier]

So many questions:

Is this not being investigated as a crime? It doesn't matter if Delonte was jaywalking, having a manic episode, or whatever, it sure appears that he was defenseless and a guy stomped on his head. And we have video. I know better than to ask this question, but seriously.

Delonte's an adult, but did his brother (or other members of his family) attempt to secure some of his earnings so that he could receive care? Does he have any money? Is he refusing care?

 

[DJnVa]

Delonte's an adult, but did his brother (or other members of his family) attempt to secure some of his earnings so that he could receive care? Does he have any money? Is he refusing care?

Per basketball reference he made more than $16 million in salary in his career. But, as we've seen, that doesn't mean there's any left.

 

[johnmd20]

Per basketball reference he made more than $16 million in salary in his career. But, as we've seen, that doesn't mean there's any left.

He's homeless. There is obviously nothing left. That video of the beating is so brutal. I am not sure what happened, but Delonte was knocked out and the ground and the guy was just whaling on him. I will never understand how people can do that to someone knocked out.

I hope he can get some help. This is extremely sad.

 

[mauf]

I deleted a post that was in poor taste, and a few others that quoted it.

Delonte West was a lightning rod during his playing days. Jokes at his expense might be perfectly fine if his current state were not so pitiable. But that’s not where we’re at right now.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

He's homeless. There is obviously nothing left. That video of the beating is so brutal. I am not sure what happened, but Delonte was knocked out and the ground and the guy was just whaling on him. I will never understand how people can do that to someone knocked out.

I hope he can get some help. This is extremely sad.

A quick look up indicates that the NBA has a decent pension plan that pays between $56K-$195K based on years of service between 3 and 11 years, so with 8 years of service, he'll probably be eligible for $150K+ per year. It appears that he doesn't become eligible until 50 for full benefits or 45 for reduced early benefits, and he's only 37. All retired players do have health insurance that includes medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage and because he has more than 7 years of service he'd have reduced out of pocket costs. My guess from that video is that he's likely not been seeking or accepting treatment.

His language appeared a bit slurred, and I've seen first hand where mental illness and substance abuse can go hand in hand, which makes treatment extremely challenging.

 

[mostman]

That’s hard to see. Just another reminder that just because these guys are making a ton of money playing a kids game, that doesn’t always mean they are living an enjoyable life. Too many athletes suffer from mental health issues and go without help.

 

[JCizzle]

A quick look up indicates that the NBA has a decent pension plan that pays between $56K-$195K based on years of service between 3 and 11 years, so with 8 years of service, he'll probably be eligible for $150K+ per year. It appears that he doesn't become eligible until 50 for full benefits or 45 for reduced early benefits, and he's only 37. All retired players do have health insurance that includes medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage and because he has more than 7 years of service he'd have reduced out of pocket costs. My guess from that video is that he's likely not been seeking or accepting treatment.

His language appeared a bit slurred, and I've seen first hand where mental illness and substance abuse can go hand in hand, which makes treatment extremely challenging.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen him in a sad situation. To your point, I’m sure people have tried to get him help, but I’m truly not sure what can be done if someone is mentally ill and won’t accept treatment and/or keep up with medication. When a similar story ran a couple of years ago, Mark Cuban said that they tried to help him a bunch over the years and it simply wouldn’t work unfortunately.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

That’s hard to see. Just another reminder that just because these guys are making a ton of money playing a kids game, that doesn’t always mean they are living an enjoyable life. Too many athletes suffer from mental health issues and go without help.

Indeed. One of my favorite articles to share with others is Kevin Love's Player Tribune post. Love was the 5th overall pick in the draft, NBA Champion, Gold Medalist and 5 time all star. He's now made nearly $150M just from his NBA contracts, not including any endorsements. If someone with those achievements in life can struggle with depression and panic attacks, it should not be a surprise that anybody can be affected by mental illness, and that it's important to take care of mental health.

My guess is that Delonte will receive a pretty large amount of support from the public, NBA and/or former friends and teammates, which may or may not help him to manage his illness. It'd be even better if there was a way for this to translate to the tens of thousands that are in a similar situation to Delonte that won't be able to receive the support he's going to get.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen him in a sad situation. To your point, I’m sure people have tried to get him help, but I’m truly not sure what can be done if someone is mentally ill and won’t accept treatment and/or keep up with medication.

Mental illness is extremely challenging to treat because of the consent required for treatment or because of the willingness for a patient to take the prescribed medication. This is compounded by the fact that the illness itself often makes the patient question or deny the diagnosis or treatment, or in the case of bipolar for example, being manic is the best feeling in the world and there's no way you'd want to voluntarily take medication that's going to stop that feeling.

The only way you can force treatment is when someone becomes a danger to others or themselves as a result of their illness (doesn't necessarily need to be self harm, as an inability to take care of themselves can also qualify). I'd say that the video above certainly provides enough evidence that Delonte cannot take care of himself to force him into in-patient treatment. However, once he's no longer a danger he can't be kept against his will even if he's hasn't returned to fully stable or committed to sticking with his treatment. (PSA: For those in the New England area needing treatment for themselves or family members McLean Hospital, has a number of programs from full in-patient to outpatient with full day treatment. They take many standard insurance including MassHealth)

 

[The Social Chair]

Ainge seems like a good guy.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1219785711060209664

 

[TripleOT]

That lowlife who kicked Delonte in the head multiple times should be charged and convicted of attempted murder.

 

[luckiestman]

Ainge seems like a good guy.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1219785711060209664

I heart Danny


View: https://twitter.com/mikezarren/status/1219824022805983232?s=20

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Delonte's an adult, but did his brother (or other members of his family) attempt to secure some of his earnings so that he could receive care? Does he have any money? Is he refusing care?

Delonte only made $16m salary over the course of 9 years (around 50% actually reaching his wallet after taxes, agent fees, etc) without a penny coming in since 2013. I'll guess that he's been broke for quite some time.

 

[nighthob]

Delonte only made $16m salary over the course of 9 years (around 50% actually reaching his wallet after taxes, agent fees, etc) without a penny coming in since 2013. I'll guess that he's been broke for quite some time.

People get the wrong idea about that sort of money because it’s more than we ever see. But when you’re in the NBA’s lower middle class it’s really easy to spend that sort of money spaced out as it was over a nine year career.

 

[RetractableRoof]

People get the wrong idea about that sort of money because it’s more than we ever see. But when you’re in the NBA’s lower middle class it’s really easy to spend that sort of money spaced out as it was over a nine year career.

Agreed. Even a person who has complete control of their mental faculties will struggle with managing their money in that environment. Once the clock strikes 12 on the playing career, your money flow stops - but if your friend circle is athletes the lifestyle doesn't. That doesn't even include any potential parasitic hangers on who want the free ride. Now add in the mental health issues, and it just becomes a massive cliff to fall off.

I think the smartest approach would be for the league to almost setup an annuity or pre-pension to bridge players to their real pension. Given the typical economic background of the player pool, they aren't likely to be experts at money management and that makes them vulnerable to many things regardless of their intentions. Having said all that, the league and the teams recognize all this, and do have things in place. I just think as demonstrated with this case, and the increased involvement with G league players, this intermediate gap becomes a bigger issue they should be more proactive in.

Edit: clarity... the gap of course being the time between the end of playing days and the earliest their real pension kicks in.

 

[Kliq]

Delonte's problems don't seem to be that he doesn't have any money. It seems to look like in the recent past that people and organizations have offered him money or a way to make money through basketball; yet he is still in this position. A pre-pension wouldn't help someone with mental illness, and the NBA has/does still offer him medical care if he wants it.

The sad thing is that there are hundreds of similar instances that happen to homeless people each day, and those people don't have a bunch of millionaires offering them help.

 

[RetractableRoof]

Delonte's problems don't seem to be that he doesn't have any money. It seems to look like in the recent past that people and organizations have offered him money or a way to make money through basketball; yet he is still in this position. A pre-pension wouldn't help someone with mental illness, and the NBA has/does still offer him medical care if he wants it.

The sad thing is that there are hundreds of similar instances that happen to homeless people each day, and those people don't have a bunch of millionaires offering them help.

All true, but it also doesn't mean that there aren't gaps that a responsible league should address.

To your point: All it takes is a quick drive down Mass Ave the methadone mile near Boston Medical Center to see the issues we have as a society with people dealing with addiction/mental health/finance issues.

edit: grammars

 

[reggiecleveland]

Playing pro ball delays learning some basic life skills, at least for many guys. Also if a guy has mental problems, if he is good enough teams, etc, enable, ignore. Even at the summer league level, where I have had my experience, there are guys that can't find there way to appointments, practices, games on their own. People wake them up, give them rides, remind them, etc. If a guys was an early high school phenom this may have started when they were teens. With the advent of prep schools. I am not sure this is getting better.

 

[DJnVa]

I heart Danny


View: https://twitter.com/mikezarren/status/1219824022805983232?s=20

I think this is in the wrong thread my dude.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Playing pro ball delays learning some basic life skills, at least for many guys. Also if a guy has mental problems, if he is good enough teams, etc, enable, ignore. Even at the summer league level, where I have had my experience, there are guys that can't find there way to appointments, practices, games on their own. People wake them up, give them rides, remind them, etc. If a guys was an early high school phenom this may have started when they were teens. With the advent of prep schools. I am not sure this is getting better.

This is absolutely true. We had high school coaches hanging around our games to talk with one of our sixth graders. The best kids get special treatment across the board from an early age, and anyone who is good enough to make the NBA was that special kid.

 

[jaytftwofive]

This is so sad. Phil Martinelli is also trying to get him help. Hopefully all the people reaching out can make an impact.

Martelli. I'm a big St. Joe hawks fan and I remember him so well in college. So clutch. Liked him in the pros too. I hope he gets help and they arrest whoever did this to him.

 

[tmracht]

Martelli. I'm a big St. Joe hawks fan and I remember him so well in college. So clutch. Liked him in the pros too. I hope he gets help and they arrest whoever did this to him.

Doh my mistake thanks for the correction!

 

[Smokey Joe]

BTW. The policeman who took these videos (or at least one of them) has been fired. Which is understandable because they were a huge privacy violation.

 

[DJnVa]

BTW. The policeman who took these videos (or at least one of them) has been fired. Which is understandable because they were a huge privacy violation.

I seeing he was suspended.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/23/us/delonte-west-beating-video/index.html
From that same story:

As "troubling" as that video is, Stawinski said, a witness who spoke to police at the scene said the man on the ground hit the other person with a bottle. Essentially, the man seen being beaten was the aggressor, the witness told police. The chief declined to identify either man.

 

[Smokey Joe]

I seeing he was suspended.

I saw fired, then I saw suspended. Suspended is more likely.

 

[lars10]

I saw fired, then I saw suspended. Suspended is more likely.

Why is a police officer watching this happen?

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Why is a police officer watching this happen?

Lots of folks are in the wrong job or are bad at their jobs

 

[DJnVa]

Why is a police officer watching this happen?

Lots of folks are in the wrong job or are bad at their jobs

A police officer didn't watch the beating. The officer is being suspended for the video of West on sidewalk taking gibberish. The beating video was shot by bystander, before police arrived.

By end of interaction, West was apparently speaking relatively normal and neither man involved wanted to press charges.

 

[lars10]

A police officer didn't watch the beating. The officer is being suspended for the video of West on sidewalk taking gibberish. The beating video was shot by bystander, before police arrived.

By end of interaction, West was apparently speaking relatively normal and neither man involved wanted to press charges.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't watch the video and misunderstood what the officer did.

 

[bsj]

Sorry for the 2 year bump but apparently he is back on the streets and doing poorly

View: https://twitter.com/TheShadeRoom/status/1535753058956652544?s=20&t=Ooop6th4yKMDNlH8jO8OxQ

 

[Euclis20]

That's really sad. It was just a few months ago that it looked like he was on pace to play in the BIG3.

 

[dirtynine]

Deep dive on West from the Athletic. It continues to be a sad post-NBA situation for him and all who care about him.