Waiters’ left ankle ‘still feels funny sometimes’

MIAMI — It has been a year since Dion Waiters has logged a minute in an NBA game, sidelined nine minutes into the Dec. 22, 2017 victory over the Dallas Mavericks by an ankle sprain that would lead to surgery a month later.

And yet even now, as the confident Miami Heat guard prepares to return, cleared for contact work, he offers a sobering thought about his left ankle.

“Sometimes,” he said, “it still feels funny sometimes.”

But not funny enough to short-circuit a return that has been months in the making.

“Because you haven’t done something in a while,” he said of the discomfort. “But as far as health-wise, it’s fine. But getting back acclimated — jumping, cutting, guarding, shooting, things like that — here and there, it’s good. They said that’s what I was going to feel, anyway.”

Inactive for Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks at AmericanAirlines Arena, Waiters said he could play at a moment’s notice if summoned.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” he said. “I’m back. I feel good, man. It ain’t really too much to talk about. It’s just when they think the time is right, I guess.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra declined to comment on whether Waiters could be back before the turn of the calendar, with a yearending three-game homestand to follow Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center.

But Waiters is making it clear he is ready, willing and able.

“I’m here. I’m here,” he said. “It’s not up to me. That’s coach. And they figure it out and we get this thing rolling.”

As for the discomfort, Waiters said he has been told it is a matter of time until that stage passes.

“Probably a couple of weeks, probably a couple of months,” he said. “It’s how your body adjusts to it. As long as I continue to get treatment every day, take care of my body, and make sure I’m doing the little things, I feel like it’d be OK.”

For now, it has been a week of being back to the grind, working with teammates as well as drilling with coaches on the side.

“It’s so good,” he said. “I feel good, so that every-day grind, getting your mind back, training yourself mentally, physically for that grind. It’s been a long time.”

Maten season: Recently recalled by the Heat, two-way forward Yante Maten said his time in the G League has fast tracked his development, averaging 27 points on .602 shooting and 10.6 rebounds for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

“I’m definitely enjoying my time in Sioux Falls,” said the undrafted combo forward out of Georgia. “I’m being used a lot. I’m trying to make the best out of every opportunity and every game. I’m just exited to come out and prove a point every night.”

He said it is clear there has been a goal of maximizing his skill set.

“The coaching staff there is great, here and there,” he said. “Each day just trying to get better at shooting, get better at finishing, defensive-wise being able to guard smaller guards, as well, my overall package.

“First and foremost is my shape. I’ve lost weight and am trying to slim down. I’m 10 pounds lighter than when I got here, so I can get up and down the court a lot easier.”

The difference in the G League is playing in front of crowds smaller than those since his AAU days.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m the only one in the gym,” he said. “I’m trying to get better and prove a point.”

As for those who minimize his G League statistics because of a lack of opposing big men, he said, “It’s not all post-ups that I’m scoring on. I’m facing up, shooting threes (24 of 65), free throws. I think it’s been a plethora of different scoring options.”