West may be going in a new direction

Did West have an intimate relationship with Gloria James, the mother of two-time Most Valuable Player and former teammate LeBron James?

Before a frantic team official could intervene, undoubtedly fearing West might react with four-letter words, or perhaps clam up altogether, as he did last season, West took a deep breath, stared the reporter in the eye, and addressed whether the rumors were true.

“Not at all,’’ he said. “I come from an era where you don’t say nothing bad about someone’s parent, so not at all.’’

West is back in Boston with a Samsonite outlet store full of baggage. He will serve a 10-game suspension beginning Oct. 26 after pleading guilty to carrying three guns and two knifes while on a motorcycle in suburban Washington, D.C.

And if that wasn’t enough to deal with, he has been dogged by speculation about his strained relationship with LeBron James, and also questions about his mental capacity. So not hiding behind a team spokesman and making a statement may have been his biggest statement of all.

West didn’t appear unnerved about the sudden shift in questioning, and then continued with the basketball-only questions.

There has been a lot happening on the court, too, with West having been traded to Minnesota, then waived by the Timberwolves only to sign a make-good deal with the Celtics.

Perhaps it all has created some humility in West. For the first time in his career, he is not playing under a guaranteed deal. The Celtics can release him any time before Jan. 10 without being responsible for a penny more than what he already would have earned. He is on NBA probation, per se, having to prove to the Celtics and the league that he is worthy of remaining.

Talent never has been an issue with West. What has hindered a once-promising career is the series of off-court issues.

West also has admitted to having had bouts of depression. Some sports fans tend to believe that money eliminates problems, and that professional athletes aren’t allowed to have mental health issues. That’s a pretty harsh way to be judged, regardless of one’s salary.