Troubled former NBA player Delonte West was viciously beaten by an unidentified assailant on a Washington D.C. highway, and now his former teammates and coaches are desperately seeking help over concern for his mental health.
In a pair of disturbing videos that emerged on social media Monday evening, West is seen being pummeled on a traffic-lined highway by an unidentified man wearing a leather jacket before unleashing an unintelligible rant to onlookers in the aftermath of the attack.
West, who previously revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008, is not seen fighting back. Rather, the 6-foot-4 Washington native appears to be incapacitated as his assailant stomps on his motionless body.
Troubled former NBA player Delonte West is the apparent victim of vicious assault on a Washington D.C. highway that left him rambling incoherently to onlookers following the attack
In a pair of disturbing videos that emerged on social media, West is seen being beaten on a traffic-packed highway by a man in a leather jacket. West, who revealed he suffers from bipolar disorder in 2008, is not seen fighting back. Rather, the 6-foot-4 Washington native appears to be incapacitated as his assailant stomps and pummels his motionless body. A row of cars can be seen lining up behind the fracas in front of an overpass bearing an exit sign for Maryland state route 210. Bystanders do not appear to intervene at any point
A row of cars can be seen lining up behind the fracas in front of an overpass bearing an exit sign for Maryland state route 210. Bystanders do not appear to intervene at any point.
The first video ends with the unidentified victim laying in a heap along the side of the road.
The second video reveals the victim to be West, who is rambling incoherently toward the camera while seated on the curb with his mangled shirt stretched across his lap.
‘I walking down the street,’ West can be heard saying to an unidentified man standing off screen. ‘Then he approached me (inaudible) with a gun.’
The man speaking with West asks him where his assailant’s gun is.
‘I don’t give a f***,’ West yelled.
After repeating that answer a few times, West can be heard mentioning President Donald Trump’s name before shouting, ‘I’m the real f***ing president.’
His former agent did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.
Delonte West’s former Saint Joseph’s University teammate, ex-NBA star Jameer Nelson, gave a statement on social media
The original source for the video has not been identified.
West’s former Saint Joseph’s University teammate, ex-NBA star Jameer Nelson, and their one-time 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 vdeos 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.’
Martelli, now an assistant coach at Michigan, responded to Nelson’s statement on Twitter
A native of Washington, West first made headlines along with Jameer Nelson (left) 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. West and Nelson frequently played against each other in the NBA as the latter starred for Orlando (far right) and the former bounced around from Boston to Seattle, Cleveland and ultimately to Dallas (near right)
CBS Sports’ Seth Davis wrote on Twitter that the incident is indicative of a larger problem in the United States: ‘Just catching up to the Delonte West video. We have a serious mental health crisis in this country, and that begins with the lack of available insurance to cover the costs and access to facilities. I truly hope he gets the help he needs.’
A native of Washington, 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.
West was then drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft and eventually became a starter alongside LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008.
He 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 counselling, in addition to probation and community service.
In 2016 a photo emerged of him panhandling in suburban Washington D.C., 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 four ears ago.
West earned over $16 million during his nine-year career, according to HoopsHype.com. It has not been reported that he is having financial problems.
West was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft and eventually became a starter alongside LeBron James (far right) with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008