Delonte West has been suspended for the second time in 10 days by the Dallas Mavericks.
According to ESPNDallas.com on Thursday, West said the suspension was due to an argument with teammates that did not involve him, after the Mavericks 88-76 loss to Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night in exhibition play. He received a text Thursday morning telling him not to report to practice at the Americana Airlines Center.
“There was an argument between two teammates in the locker room last night that didn’t involve me,” West said. “Somehow I’m being blamed for it. I had nothing to do with it. I don’t know what’s going on.”
President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson released a statement, saying: “We have suspended Delonte for conduct detrimental to the team. The suspension is effective immediately and no other statements will be issued.”
West had a couple of more sentiments and expressed them through Twitter.
“If I’m not what u looking 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…”
Minutes later he followed that tweet with: “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.”
Last week, head coach Rick Carlisle suspended West for what he determined to be conduct detrimental to the team after a locker-room outburst, but would not give further details at the time. West was reinstated in less than 24 hours after meeting with Carlisle and Nelson.
“There was an outstanding issue, and we needed to talk about it,” Carlisle said regarding the first 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.”
That was then. This is now.
