Speaking to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report after a workout for teams in Las Vegas this week, veteran guard Dion Waiters openly discussed the reasons he has been out of the NBA for the last three seasons and what he feels he needs to do to earn another shot. According to Waiters, he took his time in the NBA for granted, so his exit from the league has been a learning experience that he has been able to pass along to his son.
“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,'” Waiters said. “I feel like I had to go through this so I could explain that to my son, and that’s the dead truth.”
A former fourth overall pick, Waiters has appeared in 419 regular season games, but hasn’t played in the NBA since 2020. Still just 31, the former Syracuse standout tells Haynes that he feels like he still has “a lot left in the tank” and that he believes he can be a positive leader in the locker room in addition to helping a team on the court.
“I’m healthy. I just want that opportunity just to show I’m not who I once was. And I know a lot of people talk about that, but for me, I think it’s more about showing that I’ve changed,” Waiters said. “That’s why I’m here, man. I still got that love. I still got that itch.”
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Dwyane Wade, a 13-time NBA All-Star who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in August, has invested in the WNBA’s Chicago Sky and will become part of the team’s ownership group, writes Alexa Philippou of ESPN.com. “It’s a great opportunity to be a part of the league in its very early stages,” Wade said. “… Growth is going to happen, and so I want to be a part of the growth of this league.”
- While there have been rumblings that Juancho Hernangomez may join brother Willy Hernangomez in signing with FC Barcelona, Juancho said in a conversation with Spanish outlet Marca that “speculation is just speculation” and stressed that he remains focused on finding another NBA job, as Alessandro Maggi of Sportando relays.
- Free agent guard Charlie Brown Jr. has been a standout for the Knicks at the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 17.3 PPG and 6.0 RPG in three games (28.4 MPG). Zach Braziller of The New York Post takes a closer look at the play of Brown, who is hoping that his performance in Vegas will inspire a team to sign him for training camp.
- In an entertaining article for The Athletic, John Hollinger discusses the eight “nerdiest” things that happened in free agency, digging into the details of the Rockets’ sign-and-trade for Dillon Brooks, Paul Reed‘s offer sheet, and Oklahoma City becoming a dumping ground for unwanted contracts, among other moves.
Hope Waiters is given another opportunity to play. Good to see him overcome his struggles.
Which of these talented scorers (that was/is mainly hated by the Elmer Fudd types) would you rather have on your team if you could have them for their entire career, Dion Waiters, Ricky Davis, JR Rider, Lance Stephenson, World B. Free, JR Smith or Stephen Jackson? Rank a top3 if possible… link to m.youtube.com
Lance
Jackson
Davis
JR
Isaiah
Dion
Haven’t seen Lloyd Be Free play
Artest
Rider
S-jax
Bro that HAS to be racist
World B Free, Rider, R Davis, S Jackson, Waiters as a sixth man, JR Smith and Lance
Rider and Stephenson.
Waiters is fine now, sure!
Let’s hold judgment until he’s in a game or practice and somebody says, “I was wide open… swing the ball!” Or, when he misses a defensive rotation and somebody tells him about it as they’re walking to the huddle for a timeout. Will there be an argument or fight, per his usual, or has he truly grown and will allow a coach to coach him, or a teammate to be a teammate that doesn’t have to brace themselves for a fight depending on HIS mood that day?
Well, now I understand why Waiters wasnt looked at in certain situations that could have used him the last couple of years. I think he deserves a 2nd look. Before whatever happened, he was good here in Miami. Can still get into the paint literally at will, strong catch and shoot shooter, useful playmaker, adequate defender against a couple of positions
Also love him mentioning giving his son those life lessons. Was always funny seeing them when he was here. Kid is Waiters’ twin lol
Charlie Brown jr should have been in the league the last couple of years. 1 of several similar players I’ve thought that of the last couple of years.