NEWPORT, R.I – The gym at Salve Regina was empty expect for a few media stragglers, a handful of Celtics staff and Delonte West.

Practice had ended a few hours earlier and the players had long since stretched and shot their free throws. A spirited 4-on-4 game featuring the rookies and the camp invitees was already a memory, and still West was out there.

He shot jumpers from one corner and then the next, worked on post-ups from each block, and in between ran sprints up and down the floor.

“I’m kind of upset with myself right now,” he said after his workout finally concluded. “I’m not in the shape that I thought I was in.”

Truth be told, West looks like he could go out and play 48 minutes in an NBA game right now, but that will have to wait. Nov. 17 is the first date that West can be back in uniform and eligible to play in a regular season contest.

By that point he will have missed two games with Miami, a trip to Cleveland where he spent the last two and a half seasons and high-profile games with Dallas and Oklahoma City. He’ll miss 10 games in all after serving an NBA-ordered suspension following a guilty plea on weapons charges.

“To the young kids out there, that’s what happens when you make bad decisions,” West said. “You have to pay for them.”

West is already paying the price. As part of his plea deal he is serving eight months home detention with electronic surveillance (he is allowed to travel for practices and games) and two years of unsupervised probation. The 10 games came from the NBA, but with all that, it’s his reputation that has suffered the most.

Whether it’s the guns or the tabloid gossip, Delonte West’s name has become a joke -- an easy laugh line on Twitter. So, he works. What else can he do?

“I’m just happy to be given this opportunity to do what I love,” West said. “I’m lucky to be here. I’m happy to be here. I’m a soldier in Doc [Rivers'] army. Whatever he need me to do. I’ll go to war and die for this team. Playing every game, every minute this year like my life depended on it, cause it [does.] Nothing’s promised.

“I’ve been given this opportunity to prove to the NBA and the world that I’m a good person. I have a lot to prove and I don’t want to let anyone down.”

That’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself, he was told. 

“No, it ain’t,” West replied immediately. “Pressure comes when you’re not prepared.  Confidence comes with repetition. The key is doing one thing over and over. That’s why you see me in here now. Getting prepared so there’s no letdown this year.”

West may have something to prove to himself and the rest of the league, but not to his new team. Many of them have played with him before, and the ones who know him the best are the ones who wanted him back the most. 

“I wanted Delonte to come here right after he got waived,” Paul Pierce said. “I love playing with guys like Delonte because you know he’s going to compete every night. You want those types of guys on your team.”

Rivers called him the most competitive person he’s ever coached, which is quite a statement, but he’s not backing away from it either.

More than that, the coach is excited about teaming up West with Nate Robinson in the backcourt where Rivers believes that West’s ballhandling ability will allow Robinson to flourish.

“He’ll handle the ball more than Nate and make Nate a scorer,” Rivers said. “D-West and Nate, who’s the point guard? I don’t think either one of them [cares about the distinction] and that’s a good thing.”

Rivers also envisions West filling Tony Allen’s role as a perimeter stopper. To be sure, they’re different players. Allen could handle swingmen of all sizes, while West will be dealing primarily with guards.

 “That’s where Delonte comes in,” Rivers said. “He’s a hell of a defender in his own right. Delonte’s a better shooter. He can stretch the floor. And he can run the point. Tony Allen’s a lockdown defender. [West] will take the challenge with anybody, they’re very similar in that way. They’re both tough as nails.”

West is tough. No one questions that and despite his personal admonishments, he also looks to be in fine physical condition. There’s more to it than that, however.

“My mind has developed,” West said. “Where the mind goes, the body’s going to follow. That’s the biggest change. I’m understanding what it takes to be a pro in this league.” 

When the Celtics did call after the Cavs waived him, West did most of the talking. He wanted to assure the team that he was the right player for them and that he wouldn’t let them down. They didn’t need much convincing.

“For [Rivers] to say they want [me] back and Danny Ainge to say that, Wyc [Grousbeck] and the ownership and some of the players… that’s a high compliment man,” he said. “That’s something that you’re going to take to the grave with you. When you’re done playing you’ll tell your kids, ‘Doc Rivers wanted me to play for him. Maybe I’m not this quote-unquote bad guy after all.”