>> Will: DION WAITERS IS GOING

>> Will: DION WAITERS IS GOING PUBLIC.

>> Will: DION WAITERS IS GOING PUBLIC. DOING WHAT HE LOVES AND DOES

PUBLIC. DOING WHAT HE LOVES AND DOES BEST, PLAYING BASKETBALL.

DOING WHAT HE LOVES AND DOES BEST, PLAYING BASKETBALL. WITH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE HE

BEST, PLAYING BASKETBALL. WITH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE HIMSELF AGAIN.

WITH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE HIMSELF AGAIN. BUT THAT WASN’T THE CASE FOR A

FEELS LIKE HIMSELF AGAIN. BUT THAT WASN’T THE CASE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

BUT THAT WASN’T THE CASE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. >>> WE’RE HUMAN.

VERY LONG TIME. >>> WE’RE HUMAN. WE GO THROUGH EVERYTHING JUST

>>> WE’RE HUMAN. WE GO THROUGH EVERYTHING JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

WE GO THROUGH EVERYTHING JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. >> Reporter: WAITERS TELLING

LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. >> Reporter: WAITERS TELLING ME HOW A LENGTHY RECOVERY FROM

>> Reporter: WAITERS TELLING ME HOW A LENGTHY RECOVERY FROM ANKLE SURGERY WAS NOT ONLY A

ME HOW A LENGTHY RECOVERY FROM ANKLE SURGERY WAS NOT ONLY A STRUGGLE PHYSICALLY, BUT

ANKLE SURGERY WAS NOT ONLY A STRUGGLE PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY AS WELL.

STRUGGLE PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY AS WELL. THIS JUST DAYS AFTER HE TOOK

MENTALLY AS WELL. THIS JUST DAYS AFTER HE TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHOW OFF A

THIS JUST DAYS AFTER HE TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHOW OFF A MUCH SLIMMER PHYSIQUE AND

TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHOW OFF A MUCH SLIMMER PHYSIQUE AND CALLING OUT THOSE WHO CALLED

MUCH SLIMMER PHYSIQUE AND CALLING OUT THOSE WHO CALLED HIM NAMES OVER THE COURSE OF

CALLING OUT THOSE WHO CALLED HIM NAMES OVER THE COURSE OF HIS DIFFICULT COME BACK.

HIM NAMES OVER THE COURSE OF HIS DIFFICULT COME BACK. >>> WE HAVE ANXIETY, WE HAVE

HIS DIFFICULT COME BACK. >>> WE HAVE ANXIETY, WE HAVE DEPRESSION, WE BATTLE EVERY

>>> WE HAVE ANXIETY, WE HAVE DEPRESSION, WE BATTLE EVERY DAY.

DEPRESSION, WE BATTLE EVERY DAY. IF I CAN SHARE MY STORY WITH

DAY. IF I CAN SHARE MY STORY WITH SOME PEOPLE, MIGHT NEED

IF I CAN SHARE MY STORY WITH SOME PEOPLE, MIGHT NEED SUPPORT, HOPEFULLY MY STORY

SOME PEOPLE, MIGHT NEED SUPPORT, HOPEFULLY MY STORY CAN HELP.

SUPPORT, HOPEFULLY MY STORY CAN HELP. I JUST FEEL LIKE I NEED TO

CAN HELP. I JUST FEEL LIKE I NEED TO OPEN UP.

I JUST FEEL LIKE I NEED TO OPEN UP. JUST OPEN UP AND LET THE WORLD

OPEN UP. JUST OPEN UP AND LET THE WORLD KNOW.

JUST OPEN UP AND LET THE WORLD KNOW. >> Will: IT TOOK AN EMOTIONAL

KNOW. >> Will: IT TOOK AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON WAITERS BECAUSE HE

>> Will: IT TOOK AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON WAITERS BECAUSE HE EXPLAINED THAT MOST SAID

TOLL ON WAITERS BECAUSE HE EXPLAINED THAT MOST SAID INSULTS WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING

EXPLAINED THAT MOST SAID INSULTS WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING HOW MUCH HE HAD TO GO TO IN

INSULTS WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING HOW MUCH HE HAD TO GO TO IN REHABBING FROM SURGERY.

HOW MUCH HE HAD TO GO TO IN REHABBING FROM SURGERY. >>> I WAS IN SURGERY FOR SEVEN

REHABBING FROM SURGERY. >>> I WAS IN SURGERY FOR SEVEN HOURS.

>>> I WAS IN SURGERY FOR SEVEN HOURS. IT WAS LIKE A BRAND NEW ANKLE.

HOURS. IT WAS LIKE A BRAND NEW ANKLE. I WAS OFF MY FEET FOR LIKE

IT WAS LIKE A BRAND NEW ANKLE. I WAS OFF MY FEET FOR LIKE NINE MONTHS.

I WAS OFF MY FEET FOR LIKE NINE MONTHS. IT WAS TOUGH, MAN.

NINE MONTHS. IT WAS TOUGH, MAN. IT WAS TOUGH.

IT WAS TOUGH, MAN. IT WAS TOUGH. I HAD TO BATTLE THROUGH A LOT,

IT WAS TOUGH. I HAD TO BATTLE THROUGH A LOT, MAN.

I HAD TO BATTLE THROUGH A LOT, MAN. EVERY DAY OF THE SAME THING,

MAN. EVERY DAY OF THE SAME THING, EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY OF THE SAME THING, EVERY DAY. REHAB EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY. REHAB EVERY DAY. IT WAS FRUSTRATING.

REHAB EVERY DAY. IT WAS FRUSTRATING. SOMETIMES I WASN’T FUN TO BE

IT WAS FRUSTRATING. SOMETIMES I WASN’T FUN TO BE AROUND THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SOMETIMES I WASN’T FUN TO BE AROUND THROUGH THE PROCESS. BUT IT MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY.

AROUND THROUGH THE PROCESS. BUT IT MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY. >> Will: NOW HE’S GOT AN EXTRA

BUT IT MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY. >> Will: NOW HE’S GOT AN EXTRA PEP IN HIS STEP AND IN HIS

>> Will: NOW HE’S GOT AN EXTRA PEP IN HIS STEP AND IN HIS ATTITUDE.

PEP IN HIS STEP AND IN HIS ATTITUDE. HE SAYS THE DEPRESSION HE FELT

ATTITUDE. HE SAYS THE DEPRESSION HE FELT IN THE PAST BECAUSE HE’S NOT

HE SAYS THE DEPRESSION HE FELT IN THE PAST BECAUSE HE’S NOT FOCUSED ON WHAT PEOPLE SAY,

IN THE PAST BECAUSE HE’S NOT FOCUSED ON WHAT PEOPLE SAY, BUT INSTEAD ON WHAT HE’S BEEN

FOCUSED ON WHAT PEOPLE SAY, BUT INSTEAD ON WHAT HE’S BEEN ABLE TO DO.

BUT INSTEAD ON WHAT HE’S BEEN ABLE TO DO. >>> IT CHANGED MY MIND SET.

ABLE TO DO. >>> IT CHANGED MY MIND SET. IT MADE ME APPRECIATE THE NEW

>>> IT CHANGED MY MIND SET. IT MADE ME APPRECIATE THE NEW THINGS IN LIFE.

IT MADE ME APPRECIATE THE NEW THINGS IN LIFE. >> Will: SO WE GOT PHILLY

THINGS IN LIFE. >> Will: SO WE GOT PHILLY CHEESE BACK?

>> Will: SO WE GOT PHILLY CHEESE BACK? >>> IT’S BACK FOR SURE.

CHEESE BACK? >>> IT’S BACK FOR SURE. I’M IN A GREAT PLACE, MAN.

>>> IT’S BACK FOR SURE. I’M IN A GREAT PLACE, MAN. >> Will: SO GOOD TO SEE HIM IN

I’M IN A GREAT PLACE, MAN. >> Will: SO GOOD TO SEE HIM IN THAT GREAT PLACE.

>> Will: SO GOOD TO SEE HIM IN THAT GREAT PLACE. HOPING THAT IT GETS TO HELP

THAT GREAT PLACE. HOPING THAT IT GETS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

HOPING THAT IT GETS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE. CALVIN, WE’VE DISCUSSED THIS

OTHER PEOPLE. CALVIN, WE’VE DISCUSSED THIS MANY TIMES.

CALVIN, WE’VE DISCUSSED THIS MANY TIMES. DION’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE

MANY TIMES. DION’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS TO COVER BECAUSE HE’S

DION’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS TO COVER BECAUSE HE’S SO REAL.

PLAYERS TO COVER BECAUSE HE’S SO REAL. FOR HIM TO EXPLAIN THESE

SO REAL. FOR HIM TO EXPLAIN THESE STRUGGLES, HE LOOKS GOOD AND