Mavericks release Delonte West
Delonte West was twice suspended by the Mavs this preseason before his release. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
By Ben Golliver
Delonte West didn't stick around long enough to get his third strike.
Monday, the Dallas Mavericks announced the release of West, a reserve guard, who was suspended twice during the preseason for violating team rules.
West was suspended indefinitely last Thursday for "conduct detrimental to the team"; reports indicated that the suspension followed a locker room outburst. That suspension came just one week after West was suspended for a preseason game against the Houston Rockets, but quickly reinstated.
A frustrated West, who has dealt with bipolar disorder, took to his Twitter account last week and seemed to hint that his release could be coming.
If I’m not what u lookin 4 ….That’s fine…just dont kick me in my ass on the way out the door….I didn’t do anything to deserve that…
I love the city of Dallas..I love playin in the NBA…no I’m not off my meds…no I ain’t on no bipolar trip…this real people lives..
And it just ain’t right..imma leave it at that..no ill will towards no one…I’m just sittin here across from the arena wit tear in my eyes
West, 29, was arrested in 2009 while weaving in and out of traffic on a motorcycle with a shotgun strapped to his back. His tendency to act erratically didn't end there. Last season, West drew headlines for saying that his gun charges led the Secret Service to ban him from the Mavericks’ White House visit, a statement the Secret Service later denied. West has also launched into at least one profane rant at a media member on his Twitter account, issuing an apology after the fact.
West averaged 5.0 points and 2.0 assists in seven games off of Dallas’ bench during the preseason. In 2011-12, his first year with the Mavericks, West averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He started 33 games last year.
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