Former NBA star Delonte West, once known for his on-court tenacity, now finds himself grappling with a much tougher opponent: his personal demons. The latest episode in this ongoing saga unfolded in Fairfax County, Virginia, where West attempted to flee from police officers only to be brought down by the long arm of the law.

In a scene that feels like it's ripped from a particularly dark episode of Cops, West, 40, managed to get himself arrested—again. This time, he was served with a warrant for violating the terms of his release. It's almost like he’s trying to collect arrest records as if they were basketball trading cards.

The narrative took a grim turn when police officers had to administer Narcan to West for a suspected opioid overdose after finding him unresponsive. This brief moment of lifeline-assisted clarity didn't last long, as West was soon released from the hospital, only to be swiftly charged with resisting arrest.

Now, West sits in a Fairfax County jail, possibly contemplating his life decisions, as he’s held on a $2,000 bond awaiting a court date on Friday. Meanwhile, his mugshot, showing a haggard visage, has circulated across social media, causing many NBA fans to express their concerns over the troubled former athlete's well-being.

West’s troubles have a deep-rooted history. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008, he's struggled with substance abuse issues ever since. The lows reached such a level that Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban stepped in back in 2020, helping to get West into a rehab program.

However, the stint in rehab seems to have been only a temporary reprieve. West's track record since leaving the NBA after the 2011-12 season reads more like a rap sheet than a resume. In October 2022 alone, West managed to get arrested twice for trespassing, fleeing the police, and public intoxication. These incidents followed sightings of him panhandling on the highways of Alexandria, Virginia in June 2022, and loitering in a 7-Eleven parking lot days later.

West has certainly not made his struggles invisible. In October 2021, he was arrested for banging on the lobby doors of Boynton Beach police headquarters while holding open containers of alcohol. Rewind further to January 2020, and he was involved in an altercation in D.C., raising eyebrows and concerns (Source).

Fans and former players have long been anxious about West's well-being. Concerns peaked in 2016 when West was seen wandering without shoes in Houston. That year also saw him involved in altercations outside both a strip club and a youth basketball game, further deepening the narrative of a man struggling to find his footing off the court.

West's basketball career was once a promising narrative, featuring stints with the Boston Celtics, Seattle Supersonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dallas Mavericks. Despite those years of professional high points, his post-basketball life seems more akin to a cautionary tale.

Perhaps the most disheartening aspect is that despite all these personal fouls, there remains a kernel of hope that Delonte West can pull through. While his recent actions suggest otherwise, those rooting for him hope that this is just another timeout, from which he’ll return stronger. But for now, he remains benched, facing an opponent more relentless than any he ever encountered on the hardwood. Let’s just hope he remembers the rules of this game—and finally stops fouling out.

"nypost" "fox"