Basketball Player Dion Waiters Suspended For Weed, Refuses to Snitch On Source

NBA guard Dion Waiters of the Miami Heat has been suspended for using weed gummies after he suffered a panic attack on a flight from Phoenix to Los Angeles. And, according to sources, he’s remaining tight-lipped about the source of his stash, who is reportedly another player from the Heat.

News of the story first broke on Friday, when South Florida Fox Sports Radio host Andy Slater reported that Waiters had experienced a reaction to a cannabis edible that he had taken before the flight.

“Waiters overdosed on ‘gummies,’ sources say, and was passed out when [the] plane landed,” Slater said. “He had a seizure when he was finally woken up, I’m told.”

But on Saturday, ESPN reported that Waiters had actually experienced a panic attack on the chartered flight following Thursday’s game with the Phoenix Suns.

“Waiters missed the game in Phoenix because of a stomachache and was seeking relief when he took an edible he was unfamiliar with,” reported ESPN, citing unnamed sources.

After the team landed in Los Angeles on Thursday night, Waiters was taken to the hospital for treatment. He subsequently missed Friday’s game against the Lakers.

No Snitchin’

Sportswriter Shams Charania tweeted on Sunday that Waiters had refused to reveal who he had received the weed-infused gummies from, apparently deciding not to snitch on a friend.

“The Heat believe Waiters was given the ‘gummy’ by a teammate, but Waiters has been reluctant and has decided not to say who provided it,” Charania said.

Monique Brown, Waiters’ mother, took to social media to defend her son.

“Please don’t Believe the rumors the media will report fake news to get clicks and likes … smh none of that mess is true!” she wrote.

Using THC is against NBA rules, with violations resulting in mandatory participation in the league’s marijuana program. A second violation of the policy also carries a fine of $25,000 while a third infraction results in a five-game suspension. However, Waiters was not suspended for violating the NBA’s substance abuse policy. Instead, he was benched for “conduct detrimental to the team,” according to the Heat.

Miami Heat ‘Disappointed’ in Waiters’ Actions

On Sunday, the Miami Heat issued a statement regarding last week’s incident and Waiters’ subsequent suspension.

“We are very disappointed in Dion’s actions this season that include the very scary situation on Thursday night, and grateful that the outcome wasn’t worse,” the team said.

Waiters also missed the first game of the season due to a suspension for ‘unprofessional conduct’ after reportedly complaining on the bench during the final game of the preseason.

“There have been a number of instances this season in which Dion has engaged in conduct detrimental to the team,” the statement from the team added. “Accordingly, he will be suspended without pay for 10 games, including the Lakers game last Friday, and will be eligible to return after the Golden State Warriors game on November 29th.”

“We are proud of how our players have started the season,” the statement continued. “We expect all of our players, including Dion, to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards, and to show professionalism and respect for their teammates, the team, the fans and the NBA community.”