Famous for his NBA journey of 15 seasons, the former point guard Delonte West became media attention with his financial struggles as his basketball career ended. The Washington, D.C.-born saw his NBA days at Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers at peak of his career earning millions, but later went broke.
Even more, at one point, his video of panhandling went viral. Despite those hard days, West has the support of his second wife Caressa Suzzette Madden, with whom the former NBA star shares 2 children.
So, what is Delonte West doing these days? More about his earnings and net worth are below.
Downfall Of NBA Career and Finances- What Happened To Delonte West?
An alumnus of Saint Joseph’s University, West is the round 1, 24th overall pick of Boston Celtics in the 2004 NBA draft. With the team, he played until 2007, before the trade with Seattle; the latter sent him to Cleveland Cavaliers (2008-2010). Well, it was the peak of his career.
But the bad omen had begun to circle him shortly after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008. It took a toll on his mental strength as well as his game performance.
Moreover, after an alleged affair of Delonte with his teammate LeBron James’ mother Gloria James in 2010, his impression went out of the track. Though, neither confirmed the claims of romance.
The 2-time First-team All-Atlantic 10 divorced his first wife Kimberly Wad in 2010. As a result, a huge partition of his fortune got snacked off in the settlement and legal fees.
While he was spending lavishly for himself did a lot for his family. He bought houses for his parents and spent on his sister’s University.
By the 2011 NBA lockout, the 6 feet 3 inches tall NBA star already was facing difficulty to manage his financial mobility. So, he had to sell all of his jewelry and several cars. Even more, West worked at a furniture store to make living.
Unstable NBA Career
As much as his financial instability, his career lopsided. From 2011 to 2012, Delonte West briefly went back to Boston Celtics, and later signed with Dallas Mavericks (2011-12), before the latter waived him.
In January 2013, the point guard inked a deal with NBA D-League team Texas Legends but by October, he opted for Fujian Xunxing of China. Then, in fall 2014, he moved to the Chinese Basketball Association’s Shanghai Sharks but was released only after a month.
Throughout 2015, he played with Guaros de Lara, and again with Texas Legends. However, after a season-ending injury, the father of two back off from the NBA career.
What Is Delonte West Doing Now?
The 38-year old former NBA player currently works at the Rebound therapy center in Florida. Actually, it is the same drug rehabilitation center where West received treatment previously.
Reportedly, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban helped Delonte West, after the former basketball star made headlines with photos of him panhandling in Dallas, Texas in September 2020.
Earlier in February 2016, West seemed homeless as he walked barefoot and wearing a hospital gown. Later in June that year, another picture of him panhandling in Temple Hills, Maryland surfaced. However, at that time, he denied the claims.
Net Worth In 2021
Despite impressive earnings of $14 million from salary alone during his career peak, Delonte went from riches to rags after unmanaged finances. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the former NBA star has only $1,000 net worth.
Well, it is exclusive of his $1 million worth house with 8-bedrooms in Fort, Washington, where his second wife Caressa Suzzette Madden and two kids live. The duo married in 2013, after a year of meeting in their mutual friend’s home.
Reportedly, at the time of marriage, West was so broke that he put off a jump rope on Madden’s finger as a ring during the engagement.
Talking about his contracts and earnings while in NBA, his first signing with Boston Celtics saw him $4.91 million on a 4-year contract (2004-2007). Then, the 2-year deal is worth $8.1 million with the Cavaliers earned him an average salary of $4 million per year.
From the 2010 NBA season with Celtics, West pocked a payroll of $1.069 million, and later signed a 1 year $1.4 million contract with Dallas Mavericks on December 23, 2011. Again on July 26, 2012, the Mavericks handed him $1.22 million for a year, before waiver on October 29 that year.
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