Dion Waiters Island hasn’t been seen on the court this season.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images.)
Ever since Waiters re-signed with the Heat in the summer of 2017, he’s only appeared in 74 games with them. And he hasn’t appeared this season at all.
This season, he’s had a tumultuous relationship with the team. He was suspended for the season opener because of these conflicts.
And then this came about on Friday about Waiters:
UPDATE: Dion Waiters is the Heat player who had medical emergency on team plane, I’ve confirmed.
Waiters overdosed on “gummies,” sources say, and was passed out when plane landed.
He had a seizure when he was finally woken up, I’m told.
Waiters was listed out tonight (illness)
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) November 9, 2019
Yikes.
And then the result of this? This was from Sunday:
“We are very disappointed in Dion’s actions this season that include the very scary situation on Thursday night, and grateful that the outcome wasn’t worse.
There have been a number of instances this season in which Dion has engaged in conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, he will be suspended without pay for 10 games, including the Lakers game last Friday, and will be eligible to return after the Golden State Warriors game on Nov. 29.
We are proud of how our players have started the season. We expect all of our players, including Dion, to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards, and to show professionalism and respect for their teammates, the team, the fans and the NBA community.”
Let’s be honest here (have I been NOT honest here?); Waiters probably isn’t going to return to the Heat after all that’s happened (although it’s been mentioned otherwise). Yes, we are grateful that he is okay.
But now that we know he’s okay, a bigger mystery lingers:
The Heat believe Waiters was given the “gummy” by a teammate, but Waiters has been reluctant and has decided not to say who provided it, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Waiters has had a tumultuous series of events with Miami this season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 10, 2019
Dion Waiters passed on taking a shot! That’s new! But at least, we know Dion ain’t no rat. He ain’t no snitch.
So who provided Dion with the gummies? My money’s on Pat Riley.
(Seriously, I hope everything gets resolved between them.)
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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