The Miami Heat career of guard Dion Waiters has seen plenty of ups and downs over the past three years, with Monday seeing a definite upswing.
That’s because he became a father once again, partially naming his new baby girl after the Heat’s team president Pat Riley.
Waiters made the announcement via social media on Monday, noting that his newest daughter will join her big sister Dior as part of the family.
There will no doubt be some cynics that snicker about the nod to Riley, who signed Waiters to a lucrative four-year contract two years ago. Up to this point, that investment hasn’t really paid off, largely due to a March 2017 injury that led to continued pain the following season until Waiters underwent season-ending surgery in January 2017.
Delays in Waiters’ rehabilitation prevented him from returning to the court until almost a full year had passed. In his 44 games during the 2018-19 season, Waiters averaged 12.0 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game.
One of the suspected reasons for the delay in Waiters’ comeback was the excess weight he had added during his rehabilitation. In an effort to avoid that issue for the 2019-20 campaign and put an end to the trade rumors that have followed him, Waiters recently showed off an impressive physique on social media.
Whether that improved look translates to better play on the court is a mystery that will be settled during the upcoming season.