Dion Waiters has opened up about his battle with depression, and he's made it clear he wants another shot at the NBA.
In an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report, the NBA champion reflected on the difficult years he endured following the last time he played in the NBA, and how he faced his demons to come back stronger. According to the 31-year-old, things got so bad that he had to get a therapist to help him through his troubles.
"I went through some shit," Waiters said. "Depression, anxiety, and just not knowing my future. It got serious, bro. I had to get a therapist. It became overwhelming and too much to bear. I now talk to a therapist every Wednesday."
Waiters also described how his depression affected his daily life. He developed suicidal thoughts but chose not to act on them as he would rather "be miserable" for the rest of his life than leave his children without a father. He was also tired of people always coming to him for something, as he was always the backbone for family and friends.
"I just wasn't having fun," he said. "Shit was dark. Some days, I'd sleep in the bed all day. I had nothing to look forward to. I wasn't working out. It's a mental battle."
He continued, "I never understood what depression was until the last few years. I realized I've been enduring this pain since I was a kid. My dad even fought depression. He had a bad attitude coming up. He would tell me how he tried to hurt himself, but that was something I couldn't understand until I saw a therapist. I felt all alone."
Seeking a therapist was a good idea for Waiters, as he stated he's now on the right track and focusing on returning to the NBA to finish what he started. According to Waiters, he's "healthy" and wants an opportunity to "show I'm not who I once was."
"I still got that love. I still got that itch," he said about returning to the league. "I know I can still help a team win at the highest level on the court and even in the locker room as a veteran presence. So why not just give it a go and just see what happens? You never know."
Waiters last stepped on an NBA court in the 2019-2020 season, where he played 10 games, splitting time between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, winning an NBA title with the latter. In his most recent campaign, Waiters was suspended three different times while playing for the Heat.
The first suspension was for the season opener after he complained on social media about his role on the team. The second one happened three weeks later, when he received a 10-game suspension after consuming edibles that caused him to have a panic attack on the team plane.
The last suspension came a month later, when he was suspended for six games after posting a picture celebrating his birthday on a boat after calling in sick. Miami had enough and traded him to Memphis Grizzlies, where he was waived.
