Dion Waiters Gets Real About NBA Exit

LAS VEGAS — The last time Dion Waiters played in the NBA was the 2019-20 season, and he played a total of only 10 games splitting time with the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers.

Now, the 2012 No. 4 overall pick is attempting a comeback after a three-year hiatus that came with dark days because of depression and anxiety.

During his most recent stint in the league, Waiters was suspended by the Heat on three occasions. He was suspended for the season opener for complaining about his role on social media. Three weeks later, he was suspended for 10 games after consuming THC-infused edibles that prompted a panic attack on the team plane. And a month later, Waiters was suspended for six games for posting a picture celebrating his birthday after calling out sick. He was traded to Memphis near the trade deadline and subsequently waived.

The 31-year-old guard held a private workout Monday at Victoria Fertitta Middle School in front of a dozen or so NBA scouts and executives organized by his agent, Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management.

After his 30-minute workout, he sat down with Bleacher Report for an open and candid interview on the struggles of being away from the game, his decision to seek help for his mental state and feeling like he let everyone down. He also touched on trying to help his son avoid his pitfalls, the lessons he learned, wanting to give back to the game, what he has left in the tank and advocating for the assistance of therapy.

Bleacher Report: What makes you feel mentally and physically prepared to make an NBA comeback after a few years away?

Dion Waiters: I honestly had to go through what I was going through the last couple of years by not playing. I feel like it made me a better person. It made me a better man and a better father because now I’m able to tell my son like, ‘Yo bro, it’s not just about talent, it’s about your attitude, and what you’re doing out there on the court is not going to work.’

I told him, ‘Bro, your dad is not [out of] the league because of talent. It was my attitude, my character, and not understanding that it’s bigger than me.’ I feel like I had to go through this so I could explain that to my son, and that’s the dead truth.

I got better with my patience and recognizing my mistakes and where I went wrong, but I want to be able to correct those errors and get a chance to just show my growth. I wouldn’t be who I am today, and I wouldn’t be sitting here to be able to explain to you all the feelings and different emotions and where I went wrong.

B/R: How did you initially handle being out of the league?

DW: My first year, I was like still feeling it out. COVID-19 was still going on. It was kind of weird. I felt like I should have gotten right back to training for my return. But honestly, bro, I went through some s–t. Depression, anxiety and just not…