The internet was echoing feelings of sadness and grief after a heartbreaking video of former NBA player Delonte West made its way to Twitter. Appearing homeless and in bad shape, West was captured getting beaten in the middle of the streets of D.C. by an unidentified man.
https://twitter.com/N90sKindOfWorld/status/1219339349843763203
With the video etched in everyone’s minds, more information was released by witnesses and there is more to the story than what appears on camera, according to a statement by Prince George’s County Police Department.
“The Prince George’s County Police Dept. is releasing new information about the Delonte West street fight … saying a witness told police Delonte initiated the Jan. 20 fight by hitting the other man with a glass bottle.
[The witness] told officers that she observed the handcuffed male [West] first hit the other with a glass bottle and that man responded by striking the one who had thrown the bottle several times,” cops say.”
After the video made its rounds online, West received an outpouring of support from concerned fans and league members, including Marc Cuban and Danny Ainge.
(via per Shams Charania of The Athletic)
The same can be said for the Celtics and Mavericks. Both Boston GM Danny Ainge and Dallas owner Mark Cuban have been in direct contact at various points, according to those close to West. They all want him to find his place in life, and they want to be a helping hand when needed.
The officer who leaked the footage is apparently being suspended and investigated for his role in making the incident go viral and public.
As for West, there’s no telling what the future holds in store for him. The video has made it clear that he needs serious help and at least a few people seem intent on getting him some.
Let’s hope for a miraculous and dramatic turnaround for what has become one of the NBA’s saddest stories.
