Delonte West has been suspended for ten games by the NBA and Czar David Stern. Currently a free agent, West's suspension will officially begin once he's signed with a new team and is physically able to perform.
West's punishment is the longest non-drug, non-NBA related suspension in NBA history. He doesn't have a history of violence in the league and doesn't have a long track record of troublewith David Stern. Previous players with legal gun trouble have been suspended less games for more egregious acts.
West pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and to wearing, carrying and transporting a handgun. He complied with the arresting officer who had initially pulled him over for an unsafe lane change on his Cam Am Spyder. He voluntarily told the officer about his weapons and didn't resist arrest. No shots fired, no guns drawn.
In October 2006, guard Stephen Jackson fired five warning shots in the air during a fight outside an Indianapolis club. Jackson was only suspended for seven games despite having a prior thirty game suspension for fighting Detroit Pistons fans during the Malice at the Palace.
In January of 2006, guard Sebastion Telfair tried to board a plane with a loaded gun in his luggage. That led to a two game suspension. In April of 2007, police found another loaded gun in Telfair's car during a routine traffic stop. The repeat loaded gun offender only got a three game suspension from the NBA. Two separate incidents, five total games suspended.
Why has David Stern come down so hard on Delonte West? Perhaps he's reiterating the message sent to Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton with their heavy suspensions for waving guns in the Wizards' locker room.
A ten game suspension for West is too harsh even if Stern is trying to send a message. Delonte was caught riding around with some serious fire power but his record is otherwise clean in society and the NBA. It's unfair that he's being punished more harshly than recent repeat handgun violation offenders.
It's almost like it was David Stern's mother with Delonte in that Boston hotel room.
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