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Miami Heat 1-on-1: Is Dion Waiters an integral part of the team’s success?

By Rahmeaun Rahming

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - DECEMBER 8: Dion Waiters of the Miami Heat speaks to the media as part of the NBA Mexico Games 2017 on December 8, 2017 at the American School in Mexico City, Mexico. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - DECEMBER 8: Dion Waiters of the Miami Heat speaks to the media as part of the NBA Mexico Games 2017 on December 8, 2017 at the American School in Mexico City, Mexico. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 23: Dion Waiters
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 23: Dion Waiters /

And what’s your favorite Waiters-Heat moment thus far?

Rahming: That’s an easy one: the night NBA fans started to take notice on a national level.

January 23rd, 2017. On a night where our stars held their averages and our shooters failed us (Hassan Whiteside 4-13, Goran Dragic 5-14, Rodney McGruder 1-5, Wayne Ellington 3-12), Waiters torched the Golden State Warriors for 33 points (6-8 from beyond the arc), 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. And of course, how could you forget how he capped off that performance?

With no timeouts and 11 seconds left, Okaro White (remember him?) inbounds to Waiters under their own basket. From the speed he was going up the court, you could tell everyone in the building knew he was going to take the last shot. The Warriors did everything right and put their best defender, Klay Thompson, on the red-hot Waiters. And then it began. The stare down, a couple rhythm dribbles, a crossover to his left, a cross to his right, and an escape dribble to his left with a dagger pull up 3. I swear, the pose he made immediately after with his feet spread wide and his arms across his chest was my phone background for the next three months.

Johnson: The obvious favorite is the Golden State game winner.

That shot over Klay Thompson bookmarked a historic Heat stretch, giving hope to the possibility that Miami could manage without Wade. But the moment I love most came two days later, against the Brooklyn Nets. With 10.7 ticks on the timer, Wayne Ellington, of all players, inbounds the ball (keep in mind, Miami’s already up a point, so forcing an early shot isn’t necessary).

But of course, Waiters loves big moments.

He flashes up to the 3-point line, almost fumbles the inbound pass. Exactly 1.9 seconds expire off the clock when Waiters heaves it over Randy Foye. After it rattles through the hoop, Waiters hits something of his signature pose: a slight lean back with an upturned look of, “ya darn right I hit that”.

It’s only after he rushes to the bench that he breaks character, his expression replaced by a toothy ear to ear grin. That moment, which sealed the fifth win on the Heat’s eventual 13-game streak, captured exactly who Waiters is. A little trigger happy, sure. But he’s the guy you want taking the last shot, hands down.

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