Having Been Accused of a Relationship with LeBron James’ Mom, Delonte West Disputed Cavs Coach Favoring Superstar

Former NBA player Delonte West spent three years playing with a young LeBron James at the Cleveland Cavaliers. Towards the end of their time in 2010, West was accused by mainstream media of sleeping with LeBron’s mother Gloria James. While reports claimed that this led to awkwardness in the Cavaliers’ camp, the rumors have since been debunked. And Delonte West was empowered by these claims, he even stood up to James when no one else was willing to.

Regardless, according to Shaquille O’Neal’s “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” West also disputed coach Mike Brown’s decision of favoring LeBron James during a training session. After the then 25-year-old didn’t get back on defense after a missed shot, Brown had chosen to not point it out despite doing the same with other players.

Delonte West disputed Mike Brown’s decision to ignore LeBron James during Cleveland Cavaliers’ days

LeBron James had already been heralded as the heir to Michael Jordan before he ended up joining the NBA. At the age of 26, he was already a superstar and won his first MVP award in 2009.

This was also the year a 37-year-old Shaquille O’Neal joined the Cleveland Cavaliers. With rumors of Delonte West and Gloria James’s affair afoot, reports had claimed that things were awkward between the two players and they were not on talking terms.

It must be noted that these rumors were later quashed, with John Salley revealing that the story had been created by the media to create a rift between the two players. Despite that, in his book, Shaquille O’Neal narrated from his point of view, he claimed that Delonte also commented on Mike Brown’s decision to not single out LeBron James when he deserved it for a play:

“I remember one day in a film session LeBron didn’t get back on defense after a missed shot. Mike Brown didn’t say anything about it. He went to the next clip and there was Mo Williams not getting back and Mike was saying, “Yo, Mo, we can’t have that. You’ve got to hustle a little more.” So Delonte West is sitting there and he’s seen enough and he stands up and says, “Hold up, now. You can’t be pussyfooting around like that. Everyone has to be accountable for what they do, not just some of us. Mike Brown said, “I know, Delonte. I know.”

John Salley quashes rumors of Delonte West’s affair with Gloria James

The season did not end in the best of fashion for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They were dumped out of the Eastern Conference Semifinals by a talented Boston Celtics led by Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.

While West was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves the following year, LeBron James left for the Miami Heat and bagged his first championship a season later, in 2012.

In a 2021 interview, Salley claimed that LeBron in truth had handled the situation well:

“They were saying something like that because they wanted a story. They were trying to get in between. And, I remember LeBron didn’t say anything. He had no words for it. And, he learned. Some smart people realize, when there are rumors out there about you, don’t feed into it and it won’t survive.”