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There was the waiting game. Arroyo played it for weeks as he held out for a chance to jump back into the NBA. He had abandoned the league for a season in pursuit of more money, respect and playing time overseas.

Then there were the pickup games. Those were the ones Arroyo bounced around Miami day and night playing to stay in shape and in the loop, just in case he ran into a scout or player who had contacts with NBA teams.

Arroyo, the former Florida International University standout, used pickup games to kill time while he played the waiting game.

"We had heard a week ago that he was playing in every city league in Miami," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I probably shouldn't say this, but he was also playing pickup games in the parks. He's an absolute basketball fanatic. He was always looking for a place to play."

That was until this time a week ago. But since then, Arroyo has spent the past week trying to make an NBA home of his adopted hometown. Arroyo has played in two games since he signed a nonguaranteed contract with the Heat and joined the team last week. After a rough start to the preseason, Miami has split its two exhibitions since Arroyo arrived as the backup point guard.

His experience, passing ability and quickness already have stood out. After being out of the NBA for a year, having a spot on a preseason roster is something Arroyo hasn't taken for granted.

Especially not here. And certainly not now.

Every moment since the phone rang at Arroyo's Pinecrest home two Sundays ago has been spent trying to take advantage of his shot. And the vibe from that conversation with agent Leon Rose still resonates.

"He said, 'Miami is offering you an opportunity,'" said Arroyo, recalling the conversation. "I didn't know what to say. So I said, 'You must be joking.' I've wanted to get here since college. I was waiting for this chance a long time, and it's presented itself."

It took Chris Quinn's sprained right ankle to deliver Arroyo's long-awaited twist of fate. The injury left the Heat with a critical shortage of depth at point guard behind starter Mario Chalmers. And the opportunity left Arroyo, a seven-year NBA veteran, with a chance to resurrect his career.

Only a few miles separates the home Arroyo has owned the past few years from AmericanAirlines Arena. But he has taken a long and not-so-scenic route at times _ detouring through five NBA cities, four countries and three continents _ to finally get to wear a Heat uniform.

After leaving FIU as only the second player to score 1,600 points and owning school records for assists and steals, Arroyo signed as an undrafted free agent with Toronto and soon ended up in Denver. But he didn't make his mark in the league until he got to the Utah Jazz at the end of John Stockton's Hall of Fame career.

Arroyo, 30, backed up Stockton and Mark Jackson, who rank first and second among the NBA's all-time leaders in assists. Arroyo became the starter after Stockton retired and averaged a career-high 12.6 points and five assists in 71 starts during the 2003-04 season. His sometimes wild and often inconsistent play didn't always sit well within coach Jerry Sloan's structure.

AN OLYMPIC STANDOUT

But Arroyo was best known for his play with Puerto Rico's national team, where he was free to freelance as he led his team to a bronze medal in a 2003 Olympic qualifying tournament. Puerto Rico finished sixth in the 2004 Athens Games, which included his 25-point effort in a blowout win over a U.S. team that included Heat star Dwyane Wade.

"I've seen what he can do for a while, and he's one of the best playmakers when he's on his game," Wade said of Arroyo. "He's also been on some really good teams that have won in the playoffs, so he can help a lot."

But a reputation for clashing with his NBA coaches followed Arroyo to Detroit and Orlando, where he last played in the NBA under former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy during the 2007-08 season. Seeking a lucrative deal while the Magic sought to develop first-round draft pick Jameer Nelson, Arroyo opted to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.

The chance to be a starter again _ and a star _ never materialized in the NBA but was available overseas. Arroyo led his team to a league title and was MVP. But he reportedly agreed to opt out of the remainder of his $7.5 million deal.

"I wanted to play more minutes. I wanted to have a little more responsibility and to develop," Arroyo said of his time in Israel. "That was the right opportunity at that time to be a leader of a team. I experienced it and wanted to get back here. I was ready to get back."