While many of his counterparts are exploring overseas options during the NBA lockout, Boston Celtics guard Delonte West has a new job — working at a furniture store.

The Washington, D.C. native tweeted every step of the process from his application to his first day at work on Thursday for his more than 6,000 followers.

Perhaps most amusingly, on his application, which like most asked if he had ever been convicted of a crime, he checked yes.

When asked to elaborate, he simply wrote “misunderstanding,”

On Thursday, a sales manager at the furniture store told the Washington Post they were reviewing his application – but not for a warehouse job.

“We have to save his hand for basketball!” Daniel King said. “We’d have him in the showroom.”

Later that day, West showed up for his first day of work.

Even if he doesn’t do anything on the job, the publicity seems invaluable for the store, which is near West’s old high school in Greenbelt, Md.

He tweeted that he really is working.

“Just finished a big moving job,” he tweeted, along with a picture of him and his new team.

“Regency is a cool place to be,” he added later. “Now I’m chilling. It’s almost 5.”

West seems to be fitting his new 9-5 job in between charity clinics and appearances.

The 28-year-old guard signed a one-year contract for $1.07 million in 2010 and was hoping to re-up with a multiyear contract this season.

With a labor deal nowhere in sight, West tweeted he just needed to earn some extra dough.

“Need a 2nd job to stay afloat during the lockout,” he said.

The player ratings for the popular basketball video game NBA 2K12, which is released on October 4, have been leaked on a YouTube video, and many ratings for the Boston Celtics’ top players are shown on it.

For the Boston Celtics, star point guard Rajon Rondo is the team’s top rated player, although it’s tough to see in the video exactly what number he is given in the ratings (take a look for yourself here – about 28 seconds in). It’s likely that Rondo’s rating is in the low 90′s, as Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls has a 92 rating. Rondo isn’t better than Rose, at least not by video game standards, so Rondo’s rating could be anywhere in the range of 87 to 91.

Kevin Garnett is the Celtics next highest rated player at 83. Paul Pierce is rated 82 and Ray Allen comes in at an even 80 rating. Both Pierce and Allen are still top-notch three-point shooters in the game, with Allen possessing an ‘A’ for outside shooting and Pierce owning an ‘A-’. Jeff Green has the next highest rating on the team at 74.

After that, it goes into the reserve ratings, with Glen Davis earning a 70 rating, Delonte West earning a 79 rating and Jermaine O’Neal being assessed a 68 rating. Troy Murphy has a rating of 66 and Nenda Krstic, who isn’t even on the team anymore, is rated a lowly (but accurate) 54. It doesn’t include any more ratings, as that’s where the image of the video cuts off, but that gives us a pretty clear picture of all of the Celtics’ ratings. 

LeBron James is once again the highest rated player in the game with a pristine 98 rating. Kobe Bryant, who was rated 97 along with James in NBA 2K11, had his rating slip to 94 as he enters his 16th season in the NBA.

For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team page and blog, CelticsBlog.

Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen(notes) is 36 years old. He’s played 15 seasons, won an NBA championship, has produced more 3-pointers than any other player in history (2,612 points worth), and been an All-Star 10 times. He certainly doesn’t want to see a year of basketball go out the window.

But the Associated Press reports that he is ready to lose the season so that the next collective bargaining agreement can benefit future players.

“Nobody wants to miss a year,” he said, according to the AP. “But I’m prepared to do what the team needs me to do, what my players association, players union team, what they need me to do, because we want to make sure we get the right deal for us.”

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Source: Associated Press

Related: Boston Celtics

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen says he’s ready to give up the season if necessary to the NBA lockout.

Speaking Thursday before an appearance at the University of Connecticut, his alma mater, Allen said he doesn’t want to have to sit out a season this late in his career, but believes the issues are important to the future of the game.

“Nobody wants to miss a year,” he said. “But I’m prepared to do what the team needs me to do, what my players association, players union team, what they need me to do, because we want to make sure we get the right deal for us.”

Allen is entering what would be his 16th NBA season with 22,286 points, 24th in league history. Last season, he set the NBA record for 3-point field goals in a career with 2,612.

He said he’s not considering retirement and has been working out with members of the UConn basketball team.

“I always, typically, come up here in September anyway,” he said. “But obviously, due to not being able to work out in my gym, this is my gym of choice.

“Being around the young guys, they push me physically and mentally,” he added. “So, I look forward to being up here and trying to be up here as much as I can.”

Allen said the idea that Connecticut could leave the Big East Conference is a hard pill for him to swallow, but believes the school needs to do what it must to ensure it continues to have one of the nation’s top basketball programs. The Connecticut men have won three national championships, the women have won seven.

“We have to stay on par with the other schools around the country, because we do feel like we’re the standard by which college basketball should be measured – men and women’s basketball,” he said. “So however we need to do it to stay on top of that. Because we need to continue to get the players to keep this university going and moving in the right direction and win the championship.”

He also said he would love seeing Connecticut in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where it could play Duke twice a year.

“They are another program that shares the same tradition, the same legacy of basketball, great players having come through and having a Hall of Fame coach at the helm,” he said. “It only raises or heightens the awareness, the traditions of college basketball. And, you know you’ve got North Carolina in the conference, so that creates some devastating, scary matchups.”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

By PAT EATON-ROBB
STORRS — Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen says he’s ready to give up the season if necessary to the NBA lockout.

Speaking Thursday before an appearance at the University of Connecticut, his alma mater, Allen said he doesn’t want to have to sit out a season this late in his career, but believes the issues are important to the future of the game.

“Nobody wants to miss a year,” he said. “But I’m prepared to do what the team needs me to do, what my players association, players union team, what they need me to do, because we want to make sure we get the right deal for us.”

Allen is entering what would be his 16th NBA season with 22,286 points, 24th in league history. Last season, he set the NBA record for 3-point field goals in a career with 2,612.

He said he’s not considering retirement and has been working out with members of the UConn basketball team.

“I always, typically, come up here in September anyway,” he said. “But obviously, due to not being able to work out in my gym, this is my gym of choice.

“Being around the young guys, they push me physically and mentally,” he added. “So, I look forward to being up here and trying to be up here as much as I can.”

Allen said the idea that Connecticut could leave the Big East Conference is a hard pill for him to swallow, but believes the school needs to do what it must to ensure it continues to have one of the nation’s top basketball programs. The Connecticut men have won three national championships, the women have won seven.

“We have to stay on par with the other schools around the country, because we do feel like we’re the standard by which college basketball should be measured — men and women’s basketball,” he said. “So however we need to do it to stay on top of that. Because we need to continue to get the players to keep this university going and moving in the right direction and win the championship.”

He also said he would love seeing Connecticut in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where it could play Duke twice a year.

“They are another program that shares the same tradition, the same legacy of basketball, great players having come through and having a Hall of Fame coach at the helm,” he said. “It only raises or heightens the awareness, the traditions of college basketball. And, you know you’ve got North Carolina in the conference, so that creates some devastating, scary match-ups.”

STORRS, Conn. — Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen says he’s ready to give up the season if necessary to the NBA lockout.

Speaking Thursday before an appearance at the University of Connecticut, his alma mater, Allen said he doesn’t want to have to sit out a season this late in his career, but believes the issues are important to the future of the game.

“Nobody wants to miss a year,” he said. “But I’m prepared to do what the team needs me to do, what my players association, players union team, what they need me to do, because we want to make sure we get the right deal for us.”

Allen is entering what would be his 16th NBA season with 22,286 points, 24th in league history. Last season, he set the NBA record for 3-point field goals in a career with 2,612.

He said he’s not considering retirement and has been working out with members of the UConn basketball team.

“I always, typically, come up here in September anyway,” he said. “But obviously, due to not being able to work out in my gym, this is my gym of choice.

“Being around the young guys, they push me physically and mentally,” he added. “So, I look forward to being up here and trying to be up here as much as I can.”

Allen said the idea that Connecticut could leave the Big East Conference is a hard pill for him to swallow, but believes the school needs to do what it must to ensure it continues to have one of the nation’s top basketball programs. The Connecticut men have won three national championships, the women have won seven.

“We have to stay on par with the other schools around the country, because we do feel like we’re the standard by which college basketball should be measured – men and women’s basketball,” he said. “So however we need to do it to stay on top of that. Because we need to continue to get the players to keep this university going and moving in the right direction and win the championship.”

He also said he would love seeing Connecticut in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where it could play Duke twice a year.

“They are another program that shares the same tradition, the same legacy of basketball, great players having come through and having a Hall of Fame coach at the helm,” he said. “It only raises or heightens the awareness, the traditions of college basketball. And, you know you’ve got North Carolina in the conference, so that creates some devastating, scary matchups.”

STORRS, Conn. (AP)—Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen(notes) says he’s ready to give
up the season if necessary to the NBA lockout.

Speaking Thursday before an appearance at the University of Connecticut, his
alma mater, Allen said he doesn’t want to have to sit out a season this late in
his career, but believes the issues are important to the future of the game.

“Nobody wants to miss a year,” he said. “But I’m prepared to do what the
team needs me to do, what my players association, players union team, what they
need me to do, because we want to make sure we get the right deal for us.”

Allen is entering what would be his 16th NBA season with 22,286 points, 24th
in league history. Last season, he set the NBA record for 3-point field goals in
a career with 2,612.

He said he’s not considering retirement and has been working out with
members of the UConn basketball team.

“I always, typically, come up here in September anyway,” he said. “But
obviously, due to not being able to work out in my gym, this is my gym of
choice.

“Being around the young guys, they push me physically and mentally,” he
added. “So, I look forward to being up here and trying to be up here as much as
I can.”

Allen said the idea that Connecticut could leave the Big East Conference is
a hard pill for him to swallow, but believes the school needs to do what it must
to ensure it continues to have one of the nation’s top basketball programs. The
Connecticut men have won three national championships, the women have won seven.

“We have to stay on par with the other schools around the country, because
we do feel like we’re the standard by which college basketball should be
measured—men and women’s basketball,” he said. “So however we need to do it
to stay on top of that. Because we need to continue to get the players to keep
this university going and moving in the right direction and win the
championship.”

He also said he would love seeing Connecticut in the Atlantic Coast
Conference, where it could play Duke twice a year.

“They are another program that shares the same tradition, the same legacy
of basketball, great players having come through and having a Hall of Fame coach
at the helm,” he said. “It only raises or heightens the awareness, the
traditions of college basketball. And, you know you’ve got North Carolina in the
conference, so that creates some devastating, scary matchups.”

Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen says he’s ready to give up the season if necessary to the NBA lockout.

Speaking Thursday before an appearance at the University of Connecticut, his alma mater, Allen said he doesn’t want to have to sit out a season this late in his career, but believes the issues are important to the future of the game.

“Nobody wants to miss a year,” he said. “But I’m prepared to do what the team needs me to do, what my players association, players union team, what they need me to do, because we want to make sure we get the right deal for us.”

Allen is entering what would be his 16th NBA season with 22,286 points, 24th in league history. Last season, he set the NBA record for 3-point field goals in a career with 2,612.

He said he’s not considering retirement and has been working out with members of the UConn basketball team.

“I always, typically, come up here in September anyway,” he said. “But obviously, due to not being able to work out in my gym, this is my gym of choice.

“Being around the young guys, they push me physically and mentally,” he added. “So, I look forward to being up here and trying to be up here as much as I can.”

Allen said the idea that Connecticut could leave the Big East Conference is a hard pill for him to swallow, but believes the school needs to do what it must to ensure it continues to have one of the nation’s top basketball programs. The Connecticut men have won three national championships, the women have won seven.

“We have to stay on par with the other schools around the country, because we do feel like we’re the standard by which college basketball should be measured — men and women’s basketball,” he said. “So however we need to do it to stay on top of that. Because we need to continue to get the players to keep this university going and moving in the right direction and win the championship.”

He also said he would love seeing Connecticut in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where it could play Duke twice a year.

“They are another program that shares the same tradition, the same legacy of basketball, great players having come through and having a Hall of Fame coach at the helm,” he said. “It only raises or heightens the awareness, the traditions of college basketball. And, you know you’ve got North Carolina in the conference, so that creates some devastating, scary matchups.”

NBA stories don’t come more unsettling than the one that saw then-Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West(notes) arrested two years ago while driving a motorcycle (complete with sidecar) while carrying a disturbing amount of guns and rifles. The resulting fallout has created a litany of legal woes for the talented hybrid guard, who now plays for the Boston Celtics.

Little has come out about how West put himself in that dangerous, frightening situation until recently, when SLAM’s Tzvi Twersky asked Delonte to tell his side of the story.

West was already groggy from his prescribed nightly dosage of Seroquel when some ne’er do wells partying in his home studio came across his stash of guns and hunting weapons. In his take, West insists he was attempting to keep his mother happy by riding his stash to another one of his houses. From SLAM:

“Ma Dukes came running upstairs into my room, cursing me, saying she wanted all these MFers out of my house,” recalls West. “I came to like, What’s going on? I was already on my Seroquel trip. A few of my cats had found some stuff in the studio and they were living the whole gangsta life thing—guns in the air and this and that,” continues West. “And I said, ‘Oh my God. What the **** are y’all doin’ in here? Y’all got to go. Momma ain’t on that. Kids are running around upstairs. It’s time to go.’”

Gassed up from the commotion, West decided it would be prudent for him to relocate the guns to an empty house he owned nearby. So, with his other vehicles blocked in by guests’ cars, and expecting it to be a short trip, he haphazardly loaded up his Can-Am and placed the weapons in a Velcro-type of bag—”not a desperado, hardcase, gun-shooting-out-the-side type case”—and set off.

“I’m on the Beltway, cruisin’,” West says, voice high, emotional and inimitable. “Soon I start realizing I’m dozing in and out. I open my eyes and I went from this lane to that. I’m swervin’, and by the time I wake up, I’m about three exits past my exit.”

Yikes. It could have been a lot worse, apparently.

The interview is a must-read. It delves into West’s continued struggles with bipolar disorder, and discussing the heretofore unrevealed fact that West was under a version of house arrest during the 2010-11 season. It also includes the line “I ain’t lookin’ for no nipple to cry on.” So you can’t lose, really.

Related: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers