Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 9:30 am  |  31 responses

More Delonte West Drama, Confusion

Delonte won’t articulate what’s going on, and it’s up to everyone else to piece together the story: “According to multiple sources, however, West missed the team’s charter flight Tuesday afternoon to Orlando. Cavs coach Mike Brown said West had been excused for missing the flight. This was at least the second team flight West has missed this season, according to a source, and the others were not excused. Team officials declined to say whether this was the reason West did not play. He did join the team at the morning shootaround but did not warm up before Wednesday’s game. Over the last two years, at times West has grown nervous before flying and at times, said multiple sources, has even delayed team flights until he can be calmed down and convinced to get on the plane. Handling West’s flying issues have been part of the challenges in handling the volatile player.”

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  • Coach Walt Posted: Nov.12 at 9:35 am
    I was just talking to a friend of mine about D West and flights….he may need to be searched before getting on all flights with the team…heard it here first.

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.12 at 9:36 am
    Sigh…

  • Z Posted: Nov.12 at 10:28 am
    Im getting the feeling that the issues with West have been way deeper than the Cavs would admit. They have been doing a good job of keeping it in-house and the Cleveland beat writers have been quiet about it too. Windhorst indicated that D-West’s behavior has been erratic ever since he got to Cleveland but people but everybody agreed to not say anything in print.

  • Jacqueline Mitchell Posted: Nov.12 at 10:29 am
    I think it’s time for the Cavaliers to put Delonte on the shelf.

  • Havana Posted: Nov.12 at 10:33 am
    I dont think its particularly fair to link his fear of flying to being a “volatile player”. Two seperated issues, and I think there cant be a harder job out there for someone with mental issues than being an nba player. This guy has my support

  • Chris Yeh Posted: Nov.12 at 10:36 am
    Clearly, Delonte is the BA Baracus of the NBA. Hates flying, heavily armed, now he just has to start wearing several pounds of gold chain. I pity the fool!

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers Posted: Nov.12 at 10:49 am
    give the man a break..he has issues and we all should wish him well

  • Hoodsnake Posted: Nov.12 at 10:49 am
    Aw man

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.12 at 11:08 am
    Look, West at this point is way worse than depressed. If he’s carrying guns cause he’s paranoid and he wont fly on airplanes in some sort of phobic fear, it’s worse than depression.

  • Brad Long Posted: Nov.12 at 11:19 am
    I hear John Madden isn’t using his bus anymore.

  • Michael Posted: Nov.12 at 11:58 am
    its too easy to just write this stuff off and make jokes about it, the guy has some problems obviously. Check out the very sad story about the German soccer goalkeeper from yesterday. Now I am not saying these situations are completely similar but mental illness doesnt discriminate just because you are a professional sportsman.

  • Forrest Crunk Posted: Nov.12 at 12:04 pm
    The man needs to be sat down for a long time and treated by trained medical professionals; in the absence of some sort of mental help, I think this ends very badly…

  • vrr Posted: Nov.12 at 12:33 pm
    Delonte is such a good ball handler and he really puts a spark in the Cavs…it was great to see him play a few games in past week or two. I questioned why he didnt play last night.
    The guy needs to get his head on straight. Cavs being very patient with him. Good Luck Delonte! Be strong! Thanks to Cavs organization for keeping on Keeping On!

  • BostonBaller Posted: Nov.12 at 1:38 pm
    He clearly has problems but if the team sat him until he got help there would be people here screaming about that too.

  • dario Posted: Nov.12 at 1:51 pm
    Co-sign Michael

  • Tmw Posted: Nov.12 at 3:37 pm
    this guy is gonna find himself without a job

  • Danny W UK Posted: Nov.12 at 3:51 pm
    Basketball is a brotherhood. A huge thank you to the Cleveland Cavaliers for looking after one of there own. Good luck D West.

  • memyselfand9 Posted: Nov.12 at 4:24 pm
    depression and anxiety disorders are no joke.
    pray for the man or at least leave him alone and hope the best for him.

  • dankNuggs Posted: Nov.12 at 5:21 pm
    iv been i big fan of this guy ever since the KFC video but hes got a lot of problems right now he should not be trying to play proffesional basketball

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.12 at 7:47 pm
    sometimes playing ball is the only thing that gives you a place to be constructive. he just needs to be supported mentally and emotionally by people he trusts and wants to be around – it’s a plausible medical and physio-logical need. It’s not really a big issue outside of the mans own personal sense of worth and value. if your hating, you have a bigger problem altogether.

  • gigolo Posted: Nov.12 at 8:49 pm
    support dacre’s statement. so true.

  • Tredders Posted: Nov.12 at 9:25 pm
    Co sign Micheal and Dacre

  • Rusty Posted: Nov.12 at 9:47 pm
    dude needs to stop blazin, for people with already fragile minds that ish is deadly. As for the simpathy the dude is getting, he wont get any from me, i dont wish bad on him but these are his problems and he is in a lot better situation to help himself then most of the people in this world. My brother has very similar problems and he aint getting no sympathy from anyone besides the fam.

  • AlanPaul Posted: Nov.12 at 10:37 pm
    Rusty, you’re right about him being in a better position than most to get himself help, but you should be more sympathetic…given your family situation you should understand.. mental illness is not well understood…this guy seems deeply troubled to me. The amount of firepower he was carrying is staggering and terrifying. I don’t understand why that kind of bust would not lead to jail time. Seems a lot more dangerous than Plax shooting himself.. but anyhow he def. needs a lot of help and I hope he gets it. It does not seem unreasonable for the team to really ponder if he is a danger to himself or anyone else.

  • Rusty Posted: Nov.12 at 11:37 pm
    Perhaps i sounded a bit harsh, as i said i wish no bad on him and certainly would not take a shot at him for his problems, but as i said its on him to get help for his problems and as far as that goes sadly money talks.

  • RedRum Posted: Nov.13 at 4:14 am
    I read he had depression but it unfortunately he might be bi-polar, as he shows neurotic and manic traits. I personally think he should take a year off, address the issue and see how he feels and if he can go back being a professiona. he must be going through hell trying to cope with the stresses of a highly-stressful job.

  • The Philosopher Posted: Nov.13 at 4:30 am
    How long has he been scared to fly? His whole career? He had to know comimg out of college that in the NBA teams fly on planes. Get the money and develop a fear of flying. They start flying them as early as AAU, right?

  • NUPE Posted: Nov.13 at 9:27 am
    The Cavs and media for the most part have been treating this right. They cover the story with not too much detail or criticism that could add to Delontes ‘mental condition’. I hope he gets the help he needs, but I also hope he doesn’t cause too much of a distraction for the team. In fairness to the Cavs, they may need to just ‘cut ties’ with Delonte and pick-up another player (without penalty or reduced penalty for going further over the salary cap). The NBA is a business and although I think they have an obligation to thier players to keep them healthy, safe etc with medical care. I don’t think the Cavs should have to continue to endure the issues caused by his medical situation if they impact the vitality of the team. Obviously there is a balance.

  • Benji Posted: Nov.13 at 9:37 am
    I aint gettin’ on no plane, sucka!

  • candice allen Posted: Nov.13 at 11:11 am
    he needs prayer plain and simple we dont know what is truly going on in theminds of the nba!!

  • Roy paul Posted: Dec.2 at 2:52 am
    Man! cav’s are being real supportive to D. west and thats the kind of love he needs. At the end of the day the guy must work very very hard to still be a part of the team and he obviously is not takin his off court life on court and messing up the cav’s flow. D. West get well real soon and show everyone what your about.

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