The last time Dion Waiters played in an NBA game was on December 22, 2017 against the Dallas Mavericks.
What followed was surgery on his troublesome left ankle on January 22, and a year-long absence from basketball.
It has been a long and strange journey for Waiters, especially since ankle surgery usually takes 10 to 12 months. Waiters took the latter of that timetable, which was surprising given the Miami Heat’s track record for rehabbing players.
During his time off, Waiters faced questions of his recovery efforts. Rambunctious onlookers wondered if he was giving full effort, citing round-faced photos that popped up on NBA picture day.