Popular streamer N3on is receiving attention across the sports and streaming worlds after linking up with former NBA guard Delonte West and helping him take the first steps toward a potential new career as a content creator.
The two appeared together on an August 23 livestream titled "N3on x Delonte West (NBA LEGEND)," where they played basketball, talked about West's life and eventually revealed a collection of gifts and opportunities designed to help the former NBA player begin streaming.
The stream attracted a sizable audience. Streaming analytics tracked roughly 32,000 average concurrent viewers during the lengthy broadcast, demonstrating the continued public interest in West's story.
N3on Gives Delonte West a Streaming Setup
One of the biggest moments came when N3on presented West with equipment to start creating his own content.
Reports say the package included a new iPhone, microphones, a tripod, portable charging equipment and other streaming gear. More importantly, N3on told West that a verified and monetized Kick account had already been created for him, meaning he could potentially begin earning money when he starts streaming.
N3on explained that the goal was to give West an opportunity to talk directly with fans, tell stories about his life and basketball career and generate income through streaming.
The moment quickly spread across social media.
Some viral posts described the streaming setup as being worth approximately $25,000 and claimed N3on helped West secure a $100,000 Kick deal. Those figures have been widely circulated and reported, although details surrounding the reported Kick agreement remain less independently documented than the equipment and monetized account themselves.
Another report says N3on also gave West $50,000 in addition to the phone and streaming equipment.
Delonte West Shows He Can Still Shoot
N3on didn't just sit down and talk with the former NBA guard.
The two also went onto the basketball court for a one-on-one matchup.
West hadn't played in the NBA in years, but clips from the game showed that his shooting ability hasn't completely disappeared. Bleacher Report highlighted West's performance as he knocked down shots against the much younger streamer.
For longtime NBA fans, the basketball portion of the stream provided a reminder of the player West once was.
West played eight NBA seasons after being selected in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft. His NBA career included stops with the Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks.
Delonte West Talks About LeBron James
The livestream also produced another viral moment involving LeBron James.
West revealed that James and members of his family continued checking on him during difficult periods in his life.
According to West, LeBron's mother, Gloria James, remained in contact with West's mother and would ask about how he was doing.
The revelation gave viewers a rare glimpse into the relationships West maintained with people from his NBA days even after his professional basketball career ended.
Is N3on Helping Delonte West or Using Him for Views?
Not everyone responded positively to the collaboration.
Some viewers questioned whether putting West on a major livestream risked exploiting his personal struggles for entertainment and online engagement. Social-media criticism accused N3on of potentially using West for views following the former NBA player's highly publicized difficulties.
N3on pushed back against criticism surrounding his decision to help West.
He told viewers that West had been in sober living and was on a positive path, while criticizing people who immediately assumed West would misuse the opportunity.
That debate could continue as more celebrities, athletes and public figures become part of the livestreaming economy.
Streaming Could Give Delonte West a New Opportunity
The most interesting part of this story may be what happens next.
Unlike traditional sports media, livestreaming doesn't require West to return to professional basketball or land a television job. His NBA experience and life story already give him something audiences may want to hear.
West could potentially stream basketball discussions, react to NBA games, tell stories about former teammates, interview players, play basketball with creators and simply talk directly with fans.
If he builds an audience, streaming could create an entirely new income stream based on his personality and experiences rather than his ability to play professional basketball.
That's what makes N3on's move potentially bigger than simply giving someone money.
He may have given Delonte West the infrastructure to build something for himself.
N3on Shows the Growing Power of Streamers
The situation also demonstrates how much the creator economy has changed entertainment.
N3on didn't need ESPN, an NBA team or a traditional television network to put West in front of tens of thousands of viewers simultaneously. His own livestreaming platform was enough.
N3on's official Kick page currently has more than 700,000 followers, while third-party analytics show his recent streams regularly attracting tens of thousands of concurrent viewers.
That gives today's biggest streamers an increasingly powerful ability to introduce—or reintroduce—public figures to younger audiences.
For Delonte West, the opportunity now goes beyond one viral livestream.
The equipment is there. The account is set up. The audience knows where to find him.
What happens next will depend on whether West can turn this moment into a sustainable second act.
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