Delonte West suspended again
Udated: October 25, 2012, 1:49 PM ETBy Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com
The Dallas Mavericks have suspended guard Delonte West again for the second time in less than a month.
"We have suspended Delonte for conduct detrimental to the team," president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said in a statement. "The suspension is effective immediately and no other statements will be issued.
When reached by ESPNDallas.com on Thursday morning, West said he was being blamed for an argument between teammates after the Mavs' 88-76 exhibition loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night in Wichita, Kan. He said he got a text Thursday morning telling him not to come to the American Airlines Center for practice.
"There was an argument between two teammates in the locker room last night that didn't involve me," said West, who had two points, one assist and three turnovers in 21 minutes against the Thunder. "Somehow I'm being blamed for it. I had nothing to do with it. I don't know what's going on."
The statement gave no reason for the suspension. Coach Rick Carlisle had suspended West for conduct detrimental to the team Oct. 15 after a locker-room outburst. The Mavericks reinstated West less than 24 hours later after he met with Carlisle and Nelson.
The team would not elaborate on the outburst at that time.
"There was an outstanding issue, and we needed to talk about it," Carlisle said after the initial suspension. "He needed to refocus, and he's in the process of doing that. It's going to be work. It's going to be daily work for him to do that, and I've got to help him and our organization is going to help him, too. It's not that big a deal."
West took to Twitter immediately after word of the suspension was released. He said that his name showing up in a negative light is the worst thing that can happen and makes everything he's worked for go out the window.
West has had run-ins with the law in the past and revealed in 2009 that he suffers from bipolar disorder. He was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2010-11 season after pleading guilty to weapons charges in Maryland. Authorities say he was carrying three loaded guns and a knife when he was stopped for speeding on a three-wheel motorcycle in 2009.
Last season, he proved to be a valuable contributor for the Mavericks, averaging 9.6 points in 44 games. His tweets Thursday, though, seem to indicate that his days in Dallas are numbered.
"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..." West tweeted, followed two minutes later by: "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."
