'I was better than LeBron James!' Troubled ex-NBA player Delonte West hurls homophobic slurs at cops and claims he's the greatest basketball player ever in disturbing video from his public intoxication arrest in Florida
Ex-NBA player Delonte West unleashed a homophobic tirade at police and claimed he's a better player than former teammate LeBron James in shocking new footage from his public intoxication arrest in Florida last week.
West, who previously said he's battled bipolar disorder, was stopped by police in Boynton Beach, Florida, on October 19 when he allegedly began banging on the glass doors of the local precinct. Police said he had open containers of beer and vodka, and ultimately charged him with resisting an officer without violence and disorderly intoxication.
In the police videos obtained by DailyMail.com, the 38-year-old West calls officers 'b****es' and 'f*****s.' He also claims to be the greatest basketball player ever.
Disturbing police body camera footage has been released from the recent arrest of ex-NBA player Delonte West, who unleashes a homophobic tirade at officers and compares himself to former teammate LeBron James while being apprehended. West, who previously said he's battled bipolar disorder, was stopped by police in Boynton Beach, Florida last week when he allegedly began banging on the glass doors of the local precinct. Police say he had open containers of beer and vodka, and ultimately charged him with resisting an officer without violence and disorderly intoxication
According to the police report obtained by DailyMail.com, West initially attempted to walk away from officers, but was ordered to stop. One officer even pulled his taser on West but did not use the device
In the police videos obtained by DailyMail.com, the 38-year-old West calls officers 'b****es' and 'f*****s.' He also claims to be the greatest basketball player ever.
West goes on to say that he's Jesus Christ and the President of the United States and adds Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden
During his arrest, West (right in 2009) claims he's better than ex-teammate LeBron James (left)
'N****, I was better than LeBron James,' West said, referring to his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate. 'I'm better than [Michael] Jordan. I was the best n**** to play every sport. Shut the f*** up.'
West goes on to say that he's Jesus Christ and the President of the United States before mentioning Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.
'You just gave up your chances of going to heaven,' he told the officers. 'I came here to save you and help you. I'm the President of the United States - President Jesus.'
West's mood swung wildly during the arrest. He's heard chuckling to himself at various moments before flying into a rage at the officers without warning.
When he was searched, West accused one officer of groping him. Later he continuously yelled 'shut the f*** up' as police talked among themselves.
The arrest occurred just outside one of the Boynton Beach police precincts last week
Police handcuffed the 38-year-old West and searched him, revealing some cash (pictured)
According to the police report obtained by DailyMail.com, West initially attempted to walk away from officers, but was ordered to stop. One officer even pulled his taser on West without using the device.
'... [West] began to place his hands inside the waistband of his pants,' read the officer's report. 'At that time, I did unholster and initialize (light and target lasers only) my electronic control weapon (Taser 7) and continued to give verbal commands in which West did comply and dropped to his knees with his hands in the air.'
The video ends with West being cuffed in a police car outside the station.
'What did I do?' West asked police. 'What did I do?'
He was released from jail around 6am on Wednesday.
West is due back in court for his first hearing in the case next month.
A Twitter user known as Eazy B wrote in 2020 that he stumbled into West and bought the former NBA guard Popeyes chicken
During a previous episode in 2020, West met Mavs owner Mark Cuban (left), who persuaded the former St. Joseph's star to attend rehab after picking up him at a has station (right)
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban shared a photo on Twitter in 2020 of West, pictured right, in a rehab facility. West is seen riding horses with former NBA star Jason Williams (left)
The arrest occurred about 13 months after he checked into a Florida drug treatment facility at the urging of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who also reunited West with his estranged mother last year.
West's former Saint Joseph's teammate, ex-NBA star Jameer Nelson (left), and their one-time coach Phil Martelli expressed their concern on social media after the videos went viral
The search for West in September of 2020 began when a photograph of the former first-round pick begging on the streets of Dallas went viral. A concerned Cuban reached out to West's mother Delphina Addison, who asked the billionaire to track down her son, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Ultimately Cuban was able to get in touch with West, and the two arranged to meet at the gas station, according to TMZ.
West was then brought to a local hotel by Cuban, who paid for West's treatment.
Through a team spokesman, Cuban declined to comment on the situation to the Daily Mail.
West's family had been trying desperately to persuade him to enter rehab for some time, according to TMZ.
Cuban confirmed the gas station meeting to ESPN, which referred to West as 'homeless.'
West, a father of two, is still married to his second wife, Caressa. It's unclear if she is in touch with West at this time.
Video of West being pummeled on a Maryland highway went viral in January of 2020. West, who previously revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008, is not seen fighting back in the footage. Rather, the 6-foot-4 Washington D.C. native appears to be incapacitated as his assailant stomps on his motionless body
In what has become a sadly regular occurrence for West, brief video of the meeting with Cuban went viral, prompting fans and friends to plead for the former St. Joseph's star to seek help.
Ten months earlier, another viral video showed West being pummeled along a Maryland highway.
West, who previously revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008, is not seen fighting back in the footage. Rather, the 6-foot-4 Washington D.C. native appears to be incapacitated as his assailant stomps on his motionless body.
Price George's County (Maryland) Police did arrive on the scene, briefly handcuffing West while he shared his side of the story. According to police, a female witness claimed the fight began when one man hit the other with a bottle.
Both men refused medical assistance and declined to press charges. Neither were publicly identified by police, but West is seen rambling incoherently about the incident in a second body cam video.
The men were known to each other, according to the police statement.
West's Saint Joseph's University teammate, ex-NBA star Jameer Nelson, and their former coach Phil Martelli expressed their concern on social media after the videos went viral.
'I'm sick today,' Nelson wrote. 'Mental illness is something that a lot of people deal with and don't even know it, until sometimes it's too late. I'm not sure what exactly is going on with Dwest but he knows I'm in his corner and will help him get through this.
'Yes, I've spoken to him Over the past several months, just trying to be there for him as a friend.'
Nelson ended his statement by pleading for everyone to be respectful.
'And please be mindful, when you posting videos or pictures of somebody,' he wrote. 'You may think your (sic) helping but you might be hurting them even more. People have kids and their kids don't deserve to be embarrassed. Please Pray!'
Martelli, now an assistant coach at Michigan, responded to Nelson's statement on Twitter: 'Over the past several hours I have talked with many who are willing to help - please read and embrace Jameer's wisdom - we are reaching out to our basketball network to get the professional help Delonte needs. This is so very painful.'
West first made headlines along with Nelson and Martelli on a Saint Joseph's team that went 27-0 in the 2004 regular season and earned a top seed for the NCAA tournament before losing to Oklahoma State in the Elite 8.
He was then drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft and eventually became a starter alongside James with the Cavs in 2008.
West continued to bounce around the NBA after that, playing in the D-League and even signing in China, but mental health issues began to overshadow his career.
In 2009 he was pulled over riding a three-wheeled motorcycle, leading police to discover three firearms strapped to his body. He ultimately pleaded guilty to weapon charges and was ordered to undergo psychological counseling, in addition to probation and community service.
In 2016 a photo emerged of him panhandling in suburban Washington DC, but it was never proven that he was actually homeless at the time.
According to Complex Sports, West was seen wandering around Houston without shoes five years ago.
West earned over $16 million during his nine-year career, which ended after his only season with the Mavericks in 2011-2012, when he was just 28.
No comments