Dion Waiters wants everyone to know that he is not out of shape
Questions about Dion Waiters’ commitment to conditioning have dogged him for much of his career. The Dion Weighters furor ratcheted up earlier this month, after a photo popped up of him in Mexico, shaped like a human burrito.
— #BAMSZN (@dionwaders) December 19, 2017
No organization takes fitness more seriously than the Miami Heat during Pat Riley’s tenure. Veterans including Waiters have been shocked by the intensity of workouts when they join the Heat. Every week, players’ body-fat percentages are measured and Riley rarely minced words in his criticism of Dwyane Wade’s conditioning. Waiters was eager to defend himself on Tuesday, per Sun-Sentinel Heat reporter Ira Winderman.
“Where’s the strength-and-conditioning coach? I’ve got six-percent body fat. I’m 219. Last year I was 225, 223, playing the way I was playing. I’m lighter. You know if I was [heavier] there would be a bunch of red flags everywhere right? I ain’t got to post no pictures on Instagram to prove it to nobody. I’m in the best shape of my life. They don’t say it when I’m dunking.”
Waiters’ naturally chubby face contributes to the misconception about his fitness level, but Waiters laughed at the photo and explained that his bloated appearance was due to him wearing extra layers.
Waiters went even further in defending his physical fitness by revealing that he puked spaghetti in the locker room between the first and second quarters. Waiters is used to having his shot selection compared to projectile vomit. His 39.8 percent shooting percentage would be a career-low if the season ended today, and is a dramatic regression for a guard who appeared to have turned the corner last season. However, that is an accurate representation of how Waiters’ season has progressed thus far.
Dion Waiters said he threw up in the locker room after Monday’s first quarter. Said he got ill from eating too much spaghetti.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) December 19, 2017
According to Waiters, he’d thrown up multiple times since eating at an Atlanta-area restaurant. Surprisingly, Waiters checked back in and scored 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting in 36 minutes. Waiters suspected food poisoning, however, there seems to be sort of bug spreading in the area surrounding Phillips Arena. At least, Waiters was well enough to head back to the locker room and expel his spaghetti, unlike this poor fan behind the bench in Atlanta.
Don’t click play if the sight of vomit makes you puke.
watching the Hawks has not been easy this season pic.twitter.com/6A2TZ0kP9z
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) December 19, 2017
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DJ Dunson is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at dunsnchecksin@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or Facebook.
