Skip to main content

Thunder guard Dion Waiters on new team: 'They give me the ball'

Thunder guard Dion Waiters is happy to be in a new uniform after seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, saying that he is clicking with his new team, saying he is glad he gets to touch the ball
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters is happy to be in a new uniform after more than three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, saying that he is clicking with his new team.

Waiters was traded last week in a three-team deal. The Cavs traded for J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, the Thunder brought in Waiters, and the Knicks acquired Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk and a 2019 second-round pick.

In five games with the Thunder since the trade, Waiters is averaging 14.4 points on 12.8 shots per game off the bench to go along with 2.2 assists and 1.8 rebounds a game.

In 33 games with Cleveland, Waiters posted 10.5 points per game and 10.4 field goal attempts per game. 

Dollinger: Thunder moving up in Power Rankings

“Listen,” Waiters said after the Thunder’s victory over the Orlando Magic, according to The Oklahoman. “They give me the ball. Like, I touch the ball. Like, I actually, like, you know, touch the ball.”

Waiters, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, said he felt an immediate connection with his new team.

“They brought me in since Day One with love,” Waiter said, according to The Oklahoman. “It seems like I’ve been here forever. It seems like I’ve been playing with them forever, too. When I came here, we clicked right away.”

The Thunder have won three of the five games in which Waiters has played. Oklahoma City (20-20) is ninth in the Western Conference standings, 3.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns.

- Scooby Axson