Delonte West has reportedly gotten into a couple small fights with guard Von Wafer at recent Celtics practices. West, who is currently on home detention and probation for gun charges, instigated both incidents on the court. The most recent incident continued in the locker room after practice.
While West serves out a
ten game league suspension, Wafer is the player taking his in-game minutes. Wafer has played in two of the Celtics three games. In ten minutes of total action, he's gotten the same number of points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks as the suspended West - zero. One turnover and one foul are the only numbers Wafer has posted so far this season.
Here's video of West taking it to Von Wafer in practice, leading to their first altercation last week. They were playing in a 2-on-2 drill and at 0:48 of the clip, West viciously posted up Wafer before assistant coach Lawrence Frank called a foul. West punctuated the action by yelling, "Do something about it!" at Wafer.
Alex Kennedy of hoopsworld.com said West and Wafer battled during a 3-on-3 drill at Celtics' practice on Friday. Wafer left the court early when West began fouling him every time he touched the ball.
Later in the locker room, West sucker punched a seated Wafer from behind leading to fists flying and a floor fight that was broken up by their teammates.
"There was a fight and that's all you need to know," coach Doc Rivers acknowledged. "I'm not real thrilled that it happened, but we'll handle it."
Celtics president Danny Ainge said, "Guys talk trash and that kind of stuff but I'm not aware of any other altercation among any players at all during the course of the year. These things happen. It's not acceptable behavior. We'll just handle it internally and that's it.
Von Wafer was asked about the incidents and he deferred to his bosses.
"I don't know what's going on. You gotta talk to Doc and Danny about that. I don't even know what's going on. What happened?"
"Supposedly you and (Delonte) had a fight," said a reporter.
"You gotta talk to Doc and Danny," said Wafer.
"Did you have a fight?"
"You gotta talk to Doc and Danny."
Danny Ainge
instigated and agitated throughout his NBA career. He fought opposing guards and centers. He fought stars and journeymen. He also became the only front office executive ever fined for
distracting opposing players on the court after he threw a towel in the air during J.J. Hickson's free throw attempts in last year's Celtics-Cavs series.
Ainge knows how chippy basketball can get, especially with a tough, edgy competitor like Delonte West. I bet that deep down, Ainge is more impressed by West's fire than by the maturity displayed by Von Wafer in walking away from violence. Had Ainge been Delonte's target, he would've hit West back even harder after each foul with no thought given to walking off the court early.
In training camp this year, Doc Rivers called West, "The most competitive player I've ever coached." Ainge and Rivers knew who they were signing when they brought West back for his second stint with the Celtics. The same guy that intimidates his teammate who's trying to take his minutes will go even harder against opponents. The Celtics will have no problem waiting out the seven games left in West's suspension.
Shaquille O'Neal knows West well from playing together in Cleveland last season. He sums up Delonte's NBA outlook in Big Shamrock style.
"He's on the big "P" so if he messes up with the big "P" he can get the "J". Peanut butter and jelly. Probation and jail. He's going to be cool and we're going to keep him in line."
Hopefully Shaq and Kevin Garnett will help keep Delonte focused this year. It would be better to see West thriving like Ron Artest on a championship caliber NBA team than looking for work in Turkey like Allen Iverson.
