Delonte West Goes Off on Twitter Rant, Doesn’t Want to be Media’s Sideshow

Delonte West is my favorite athlete to follow on Twitter for a number of reasons. He’s funny, silly, open, and honest. But sometimes he is too open and honest, and it can get him in trouble.

That’s what happened when he vented late Saturday evening.

West was apparently upset with a question he was asked by the Dallas media following Saturday’s game, and he went off on a Twitter rant. The tweets have been deleted, but they were captured by Mavs Moneyball.

Here is how they appeared (with the profanity edited):

It sounds like West is not living the glorified life of a typical basketball player and he wants people to know that. He also seems to be having trouble finding a place to live, though I did seem him tweet pictures from a really nice apartment/house over the holidays. It’s unclear what the question was that was asked of him, but it’s pretty obvious it bothered him. I also have no idea what prompted his attack on ESPN Miami Heat writer Brian Windhorst, who covered Delonte when the two were in Cleveland.

West is trying to show the public that he is a real person with mental, and other issues, just like the rest of us. His authenticity is what has helped him gain a loyal following, but it’s also going to alienate many others. Rants like this won’t help his image. Neither are words attacking a writer, and West understands that comments like these are better left off Twitter.

UPDATE: Brian Windhorst responded via Twitter “Always felt I treated Delonte with dignity & respect. Never, ever wrote rumors, usually protected him. Like most people who spend time around Delonte, I will him nothing but good health. I hope he’s in a good place. He’s a great player.”

Also See:
Weapons charge keeps West from playing overseas
Delonte gets job working stock room for furniture store
Delonte West buys OJ Simpson-style white Ford Bronco
Delonte West banned from the White House