Dion Waiters Suspended for Heat Opener After 'Conduct Detrimental to the Team'

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Heat suspended guard Dion Waiters for one game on Thursday, Miami announced. 

Waiters is suspended due to "conduct detrimental to the team," per Miami's statement. He will not play for the Heat in their season opener against the Grizzlies on Wednesday. 

"There were a number of unacceptable incidents this week, culminating with his unprofessional conduct on the bench last night,'' Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement on Saturday. "As a consequence, I feel we had to suspend him.''

Waiters' suspension came after a spirited discussion with Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra in Friday's win over the Rockets. Waiters product played just 10 minutes as he battles for minutes in Miami's crowded rotation.

The Syracuse product played just 44 games in 2018-19, and he's played just 126 of 246 games since 2016-17 due to ankle and foot injuries. Waiters has two years and $24.75 million left on his contract.

Miami finished 10th in the East last season at 39–43. The franchise has made the playoffs eight times in 10 seasons with Spoelstra