Delonte just can't get his demons under control. At least he's got Gloria James to comfort him...
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/th...st-after-fight
According to Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld, Celtics teammates Delonte West and Von Wafer got into a fist fight in the locker room following an intense three-on-three drill in practice.
"During a three-on-three game with Avery Bradley, Luke Harangody, Semih Erden and assistant coach Tyronn Lue, West began fouling Wafer each time the reserve guard touched the ball. West was increasingly physical to the point that Wafer exited to the locker room midway through the game. As he walked away, West barked obscenities and taunted Wafer," wrote Kennedy. "After Wafer had showered and sat down at his locker, West approached from behind and threw a punch. Wafer didn't see the punch coming but quickly got off of the ground and connected on two punches of his own. He then wrestled West to the ground before being separated by the team's veterans."
Following the incident, Wafer offered some clarification of his own through his Twitter account.
"Today was a test!...I am a professional and will continue to conduct myself as one...God has a plan for me," Wafer wrote (in a tweet that was subsequently deleted).
"[i] love my team. #wefamily" he later added.
It was the second known confrontation in less than a week between Wafer and West, as the two had to be separated on Sunday, one night before the team's season opener, after jawwing during a two-on-two drill. Kennedy reports that the Celtics -- including coach Doc Rivers and veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce -- have grown tired of West's confrontational nature with teammates. The team, according to the report, is considering releasing West, who is signed on a non-guaranteed contract.
West is currently serving a 10-game, season-opening suspension due after pleading guilty to charges of carrying a concealed weapon. (More on that here.)
Prior to the season opener against the Heat, Celtics GM Danny Ainge said that the team was well-aware of the guard's off-court issues but that it concluded that everyone was comfortable with the risks associated with his behavioral issues.
"What’s happened to Delonte over the past couple years is not shocking to any of us. We know that he has challenges off the court but we love what he brings to the court," Ainge said on The Big Show. "Delonte was a favorite of a lot of people in Boston. He was a fun guy to watch, a lot of people embraced Delonte when he was here as a player. I think a lot of people, including our players, respect Delonte. Not only the guys that played with Delonte like [Pierce] and Rajon [Rondo] and [Kendrick Perkins] but [the guys who] have been playing against him the last few years as an opponent, they have a great respect for him on the court. So, yeah, I think everybody is aware that Delonte has had challenges off the court. We are trying to give him the support that he needs. The players that were with him before, our coach that was with him before and myself and ownership I think we were aware of that risk and I think we were comfortable with that risk."
Whether that remains the case after Friday's reported incident remains to be seen.
10-29-2010, 02:49 PM
