Following the Miami Heat’s win over the Warriors on Friday, Dion Waiters’ 10 game suspension was officially over. Waiters returned to practice with the team on Saturday, where he issued a statement apologizing for the plane incident that got him disciplined.
Dion Waiters apologized through a statement issued today by the Heat. pic.twitter.com/qCyomcFP38
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) November 30, 2019
Waiters suffered a panic attack on the team’s flight from Phoenix to Los Angeles on Nov. 7 after taking an edible, he had to be hospitalized once the plane landed and missed the next game. The Heat suspended Waiters 10 games following the incident.
Although his suspension is over, it is still unknown when Waiters will actually be on the court and see minutes in a game. Head coach Erik Spoelstra told ESPN on Saturday that they will work to get Waiters’ conditioning “to the next step” and go from there.
Waiters has been active for only two of the Miami’s 18 games so far this season, but he has yet to suit up and sit on the bench for a game.
He was suspended by the Heat for the season opener for “conduct detrimental to the team” after voicing his frustration with his role on the team. Waiters saw his role significantly decrease leading up to this season due to the emergence of rookies Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn.
Waiters also missed games during the preseason for personal reasons.
The Heat will play the Nets in Brooklyn on Sunday.
