Celebrity Biographies
Dion Waiters Biography And Net Worth
Who is Dion Waiters?
Dion Waiters Jr. is a former professional basketball player from the United States, who made a significant impact in the world of basketball. He showcased his skills in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Los Angeles Lakers. Waiters’ journey in the basketball world began during his college years when he played for the Syracuse Orange. He took a major step in his career when he was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over the years, Waiters also contributed to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat before landing with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he achieved the ultimate feat of winning an NBA championship.
In this article, we will explore Dion Waiter’s biography. We’ll provide insights into his career and net worth.
Bio Data
| Full Name | Dion Waiters Jr. |
| Date Of Birth | December 10, 1991 |
| Age | 31 Years Old |
| Place Of Birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Nationality | America |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Net Worth | $30 Million |
| Marital Status | In a relationship |
Early Life
Dion Waiters was born on December 10, 1991, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to parents Dion Waiters Sr. and Monique Brown. He was mainly raised by his mother because his father was in jail when he was born. His grandmother passed away just four hours after he was born. Waiters loved playing basketball wherever and whenever he could, no matter the weather or time of day. He lived with his mother and stepfather, James Barnes.
In high school, Waiters attended Bartram High School and South Philadelphia High School as a freshman, but he didn’t play basketball at either of those schools. Surprisingly, he committed to Syracuse during the summer after his freshman year, despite not having played a single minute of high school basketball. In his sophomore year of high school, he went to South Kent School. Later, he played basketball at Life Center Academy during his junior and senior years. After his senior year, he was ranked as the 15th-best overall recruit by ESPNU and the No. 2 best shooting guard in the ESPN 100. Rivals.com also ranked him as the 29th-best overall recruit.
During his freshman season at Syracuse, Waiters averaged 6.6 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game. In an NCAA Tournament second-round game against Marquette, he had a great performance, making 8 out of 10 shots and scoring 18 points.
In his sophomore season at Syracuse, Waiters boosted his stats, averaging 12.6 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game. He earned several awards and honors, such as the Big East Sixth Man of the Year, third-team All-Big East recognition, AP Honorable Mention All-American recognition, and a spot on the All-Big East Tournament team.
Professional Career
Dion Waiters joined the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2012 to 2015 after they selected him fourth in the 2012 NBA draft. Despite not participating in workouts for any teams before the draft, a team committed to drafting him, granting him this opportunity. This high pick surprised many scouts due to his lack of college starting experience and his use of zone defense at Syracuse.
In his rookie season, Waiters scored a career-high 33 points in one game and earned a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend. Some injuries during that season caused him to miss 21 games. NBA.com rated him as the fourth-best rookie, and he finished fifth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
In 2015, Waiters was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He had some good games but mostly came off the bench. He had a controversial moment when he elbowed a Spurs player during an inbound pass in a playoff game.
Then, in 2016, Waiters joined the Miami Heat. He had some good games and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week in January 2017. He missed some games due to injury, and the Heat missed the playoffs that season.
Dion re-signed with the Heat in 2017 but had more ankle problems in 2018. He even played in the G League for a bit before returning to the Heat. He was also suspended a few times for various reasons.
In 2020, Waiters was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies and then waived. He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in March 2020 and won his first championship with them in the 2020 NBA Finals.
Since the 2019-20 NBA season, Waiters took a break from professional basketball due to personal issues, including depression. In July 2023, he had a private workout to try and make a comeback in the NBA.
Awards
Dion Waiters received several awards and honors throughout his basketball career. Here’s a list of some of his notable achievements:
- Second-team Parade All-American in 2010.
- Jordan Brand All-American in 2010.
- Big East Sixth Man of the Year in 2012.
- Named to the Third-team All-Big East in 2012.
- Earned a spot on the Big East All-Tournament Team in 2012.
- NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February 2013.
- Selected for the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2013.
- Recognized as an NBA Rising Star in both 2013 and 2014.
- Named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for January 23–29, 2017.
- Achieved the prestigious title of NBA Champion in 2020.
Net Worth
Dion Waiters has accumulated a net worth over his career. His earnings come from his contracts with various NBA teams. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his estimated net worth is $30 million.
FAQs
Who is Dion Waiters?
Dion Waiters Jr. is a former professional basketball player from the United States, who made a significant impact in the world of basketball. He showcased his skills in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Los Angeles Lakers.
What is Dion Waiters’ Net Worth?
Dion Waiters has an estimated net worth of $30 million.
What happened to Dion Waiters?
During his hiatus, he suffered depression. On July 13, 2023, he held a private workout in front of NBA scouts at the Victoria Fertitta Middle School, for a chance to re-join the league.