Miami Heat combo guard Dion Waiters knew all about the social media jokes directed at him after his glaring weight gain over the last year. Waiters underwent major ankle surgery earlier this year and has yet to make an on-court appearance this season.
Rohan Nadkarni of Sports Illustrated sat down with the scoring guard as he talked about his rehab, including how he is fending off criticisms and scrutiny:
Waiters heard the jokes, by the way. He saw people comment on the weight gain. He saw people say he took the money and ran. He was quiet about it. Until now.
“I don’t do it for the internet,” Waiters says. “F— it. Some people live for that s—. It’s one big-ass circus. I could’ve been posting pictures this whole time. I won’t be their clown. I don’t play for social media. That’s coward s—.”
Waiters couldn't really move that much after the surgery, leading to a significant increase in his weight. But Waiters reiterates that he never softened up on his rehab and kept up with the rigorous process:
While Twitter had a field day with Waiters’s media day photos, he was focused on losing the 15 pounds he gained while he could barely walk. “Rehab f—ing sucks,” Waiters admits, but he still works out two times a day to get himself back in playing shape. He currently has a chef prepare his meals, and Bub is on hand to make sure he doesn’t give in to any cravings.
“The internet is a lose-lose situation,” Waiters explains. “Yeah, I blew up. But people don’t see the other side of it. They don’t talk about how I played on a broken foot. They don’t know about the everyday grind.”
Waiters, 27, signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Heat in 2017. The truth is he's first and foremost a baller, and getting back on the court is his topmost priority. Luckily, he has just been cleared for full contact and should be back soon.
Follow Us
Subscribe