Multiple fan bases, including the Kings, Raptors and Grizzlies
are all lamenting the fact that they had Hassan Whiteside wearing their colors
and they let him slip away.
As much as I am the one driving the Hassan Whiteside bandwagon, people have to remember that what is happening right now, was not for seen by anyone; including the Miami Heat.
This is not a guy who was sure fire prospect by any means.
Since leaving college after a single season at Marshall where he averaged 13.1 points, 8.9 points and 5.4 blocks, Whiteside has played for the Kings, the Reno Bighorns (D League), Sioux Falls Skyforce (D League),Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D League), Iowa Energy (D League) and overseas (Lebanon and China) with 4 different clubs in a single calendar year.
Reports have come forth from various cities, (both in the US and abroad) that despite being the soft spoken, gentle giant – that Whiteside may have had issues with more than one coaching staff. Nothing frustrates an organization more than a guy who hasn’t proven anything having a chip on his shoulder.
Whiteside denies these claims, but the fact remains his reputation was not good with GMs across the league.
In addition to that, his multiple NBA try outs prior to sticking with the Heat were all underwhelming at best – despite being handed the opportunity to impress.
Management with each of those teams likely felt that Whiteside was not going to walk into Toronto, Memphis or Sacramento and make an impact because each of those teams have fixtures at their starting 5.
It seems clear today, that in order to be impactful, Whiteside is the type that needs a daily routine, understanding of his role and starter type minutes.
This season with Miami he is averaging 18 minutes per game, but over the last few weeks it has been significantly more, and the results have matched or surpassed his massive per 36 projections.
To put it in perspective, since the calendar flipped to 2015 and Hassanity really hit fever pitch, Whiteside is averaging 13.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.
The only other men in NBA history to average numbers like that are Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob McAdoo. All of those men are either Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers.
Of course, the big caveat is that those men did it over the course of an entire season – and not a month.
With a salary under $800,000 (and a $900,000 option next season) Whiteside is clearly the best value in the NBA right now, but even his own teammates are amazed by what he’s doing.
After a game this past week where the Heat went to Whiteside on 3 consecutive post up options, Chris Bosh commented that he hadn’t seen Whiteside score like that in practice, and he doesn’t think Hassan himself had seen it. Bosh also stated that Whiteside “continues to surprise” him.
It’s an amazing story.
The high octane, shot blocker that was all but forgotten by the NBA, and is now making waves; but by no means was this part of Pat Riley’s vision when they picked up the 7 footer and called him up from the D League back in November. Several members of the Miami Heat (Bosh included) have openly admitted they had never heard of Whiteside before he worked out with the team.
Comparisons to Jeremy Lin have been inevitable. The big difference here being that nobody ever expected Lin to do anything at the NBA level, whereas many thought this college kid with 5+ blocks per game and a 7 foot 7 wingspan could evolve – if he had the patience, maturity and determination.
It has been said on The Bench that for players to succeed at the NBA level, it often comes down to opportunity and having an organization willing to commit and give you the opportunity to succeed and fail.
Most clubs don’t have that luxury, but one that is in the bottom third of the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture – with gaping holes in their frontcourt, could certainly take the risk.
And what a risk.
As much as I am the one driving the Hassan Whiteside bandwagon, people have to remember that what is happening right now, was not for seen by anyone; including the Miami Heat.
This is not a guy who was sure fire prospect by any means.
Since leaving college after a single season at Marshall where he averaged 13.1 points, 8.9 points and 5.4 blocks, Whiteside has played for the Kings, the Reno Bighorns (D League), Sioux Falls Skyforce (D League),Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D League), Iowa Energy (D League) and overseas (Lebanon and China) with 4 different clubs in a single calendar year.
Reports have come forth from various cities, (both in the US and abroad) that despite being the soft spoken, gentle giant – that Whiteside may have had issues with more than one coaching staff. Nothing frustrates an organization more than a guy who hasn’t proven anything having a chip on his shoulder.
Whiteside denies these claims, but the fact remains his reputation was not good with GMs across the league.
In addition to that, his multiple NBA try outs prior to sticking with the Heat were all underwhelming at best – despite being handed the opportunity to impress.
Management with each of those teams likely felt that Whiteside was not going to walk into Toronto, Memphis or Sacramento and make an impact because each of those teams have fixtures at their starting 5.
It seems clear today, that in order to be impactful, Whiteside is the type that needs a daily routine, understanding of his role and starter type minutes.
This season with Miami he is averaging 18 minutes per game, but over the last few weeks it has been significantly more, and the results have matched or surpassed his massive per 36 projections.
To put it in perspective, since the calendar flipped to 2015 and Hassanity really hit fever pitch, Whiteside is averaging 13.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.
The only other men in NBA history to average numbers like that are Alonzo Mourning, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob McAdoo. All of those men are either Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers.
Of course, the big caveat is that those men did it over the course of an entire season – and not a month.
With a salary under $800,000 (and a $900,000 option next season) Whiteside is clearly the best value in the NBA right now, but even his own teammates are amazed by what he’s doing.
After a game this past week where the Heat went to Whiteside on 3 consecutive post up options, Chris Bosh commented that he hadn’t seen Whiteside score like that in practice, and he doesn’t think Hassan himself had seen it. Bosh also stated that Whiteside “continues to surprise” him.
It’s an amazing story.
The high octane, shot blocker that was all but forgotten by the NBA, and is now making waves; but by no means was this part of Pat Riley’s vision when they picked up the 7 footer and called him up from the D League back in November. Several members of the Miami Heat (Bosh included) have openly admitted they had never heard of Whiteside before he worked out with the team.
Comparisons to Jeremy Lin have been inevitable. The big difference here being that nobody ever expected Lin to do anything at the NBA level, whereas many thought this college kid with 5+ blocks per game and a 7 foot 7 wingspan could evolve – if he had the patience, maturity and determination.
It has been said on The Bench that for players to succeed at the NBA level, it often comes down to opportunity and having an organization willing to commit and give you the opportunity to succeed and fail.
Most clubs don’t have that luxury, but one that is in the bottom third of the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture – with gaping holes in their frontcourt, could certainly take the risk.
And what a risk.
