Delonte West's Wife Caressa Suzzette Madden Met Him When He Was Broke

Caressa Suzzette Madden became Delonte West's wife amid the former NBA star's career and poverty crisis. Although his life saw many more hardships afterward, she remained at his side, welcoming two children with her beau.

The ups and downs of Delonte West's life and career is a well-documented story that Caressa Suzzette Madden became a part of in the early 2010s. Her husband had been married before when he tied the knot with her, and she became the second wife of the former basketball star.

Little is known about Madden's background besides her relation to West. She entered his life as he battled a mental illness that haunted him from childhood and remained at his side when he faced financial struggles and poverty.

Madden and West also started a family together, but things didn't improve significantly for West or their relationship. In fact, there have been worrisome reports in recent years about the former guard allegedly facing homelessness and living separately from his family.

Caressa Suzzette Madden Met Delonte When He Was at the Bottom of His Career

Madden is a Dallas, Texas native who drew her first breath on May 13, 1988. At the time of this writing, it is believed that is her current residency. She and West met through a mutual friend during a gathering at the said friend's house.

There was immediate chemistry between the two, and they grew close. Madden then moved in with West at his Fort Washington mansion; however, it was during that time that his career experienced an all-time low. A few years before they met, he'd been embroiled in scandals and had accumulated a criminal record.

In 2008, when he played with the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside LeBron James—married to Savannah James with three children—a rumor claimed he was romantically involved with James' mother. West denied the allegations.

The following year, Prince George County local authorities pulled him over after he made an unsafe lane change, driving a three-wheeled motorcycle. He informed the police he was armed with a gun secured on his waistband, and they found two more after searching the vehicle.

Other mishaps followed, with West being suspended twice in less than two weeks while playing for the Dallas Mavericks. It was in October 2012, and the reason for both punishments was conduct detrimental to the team. Eventually, the Mavericks let him go.

Caressa Suzzette Madden Moved into Delonte's Huge but Cold House When She Was Pregnant

West's Fort Washington home was a beautiful mansion that overlooked a stunning view of the Potomac region. When Madden moved in, however, he couldn't afford to keep the house warm. He had to buy space heaters for each of the rooms they used.

West also had to boil water on the stove for Madden to have a warm bath. When he asked for her hand in marriage, his substitute for a ring was a snippet of a jump rope that he tied around her finger as he told her:

"It's all I can afford, baby. I'm broke, heat ain't working, brain ain't working right, but I love you."

By 2014, they were a married couple. They had welcomed their son, Cash, the previous year. West and Madden had another baby boy in 2014, but they kept him and his name hidden from the spotlight.

Caressa Suzzette Madden's Husband Battles Mental Disease

Madden's husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008, though the symptoms began showing in his childhood. He has been upfront about his battle with the mental illness and acknowledged that he'd always been prone to self-destructive behavior.

After stints with the Cavaliers, the Celtics, and the Mavericks, another opportunity availed itself for West to play pro basketball with the D-League Legends in January 2013. However, photos of him looking homeless circulated online in recent years (2019-2022).

Mavericks CEO Mark Cuban offered to take West to a rehabilitation center in those years to receive treatment as he struggled with substance abuse. By 2022, he was training for promising prospects. Yet he was seen begging in the streets again in June of that year.

Although he looked worryingly disheveled in the photos shared by a fan at the time, West insisted he was doing fine and actively seeking employment to take care of his babies. He never mentioned his wife, and it's been reported that she returned to Dallas with their kids and is living with her mom.