How Waters went from DoorDash driver to rising Warriors standout originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Lindy Waters III had an unusual path to NBA fame that included driving for DoorDash and mowing lawns.
In a video with Bleacher Report, Waters III explained his experience playing in a semi-pro league outside of college and the extra jobs he had to take on to pay the bills.
“The Basketball League is like a domestic, semi-professional league, and I care about that [a place] to continue playing,” Waters III said. “We had a great team; we went 30-3 and won the championship. That was a bigger grind than the G-League. It would be six in the morning, and I would drive to Omaha or Houston or Dallas and play the day of the game and then drive back.
“And then when I get home, I have to figure out how to make some money, so I go to DoorDash or mow some lawn. I was just trying to get by. And then one day I got a call to come over and train with me [the Oklahoma City Thunder]. I had nothing to lose, so I was just out there hooping and having fun. They gave me a spot in the G-League and I just worked as hard as I could to get where I am today. It was a ride, that was a year of growth for me.”
Waters played four seasons at Oklahoma State before being taken in the 2020 NBA Draft. After playing with the Enid Outlaws of The Basketball League, he joined Thunder’s G-League affiliate Blue in 2021.
He eventually landed an NBA roster spot with the Thunder before being traded to the Warriors last June.
Since joining Golden State, Waters III has been electric from the three-point line, helping the Warriors to a 4-1 start to the season. The 27-year-old has more than earned his roster spot on a deep team with arguably the best bench in the NBA. Through five games, the Warriors bench is averaging 59.0 points per game, the most in the league.
Given his solid start to his tenure in Golden State, don’t expect Waters III to make any more DoorDash deliveries.
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