The Miami Heat are a popular choice amongst fans and analysts as a team that could potentially knock off LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a playoff series. The Heat have a loaded starting five and a deep bench. Health will also be the No. 1 concern with the Heat, but coming into the season Hassan Whiteside was a close No. 2 according to some people.
Whiteside had washed out of the NBA after only two seasons with the Sacramento Kings from 2010-12. He then went on a basketball journey across the world to get his basketball life back on track. It started in the NBA D-League, but brought him to Lebanon and China with multiple teams. He had grown not only as a player, but as a person as well. His maturity was a big problem during his first stint in the NBA, but that is much better this time around.
After getting signed by the Memphis Grizzlies for training camp, he was released prior to the regular season. He wound up back in the D-League, where he would stay for a couple of weeks. He was called up for the first time on Nov. 24 by the Miami Heat, but was demoted Dec. 13. He would be brought back up two days later, and this time would stay permanently.
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He began receiving consistent minutes on Dec. 27, and never looked back. Whiteside came out of nowhere last season for the Heat, averaging 11.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. The Heat looked to find themselves a hidden gem, but many people thought it was a fluke. They had reason to believe that, since he did play in only 48 games. That caused some people to throw some cold water on the Whiteside hype train, but it has only picked up steam this season.
Whiteside has picked up right where he left off last season, as he looks like a totally different player from his first stint in the NBA. The Heat gave him a real chance, and he has taken it and ran. This season Whiteside has continued dominating opponents, taking advantage of the extra minutes he is receiving. Last season he played only 23.8 minutes per game, but so far in 2015-16, Whiteside is up to 29.7.
That has helped push some of his stats up, such as his scoring. He is still scoring with excellent efficiency, making 63.9 percent of his shots, raising his points per game total to 14.7. He still struggles at the free throw line, making only 64.7 percent from the charity stripe. But that is something the Heat can live with given the impact he makes elsewhere.
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Whiteside is still a force on the glass, averaging 10.9 rebounds per game, tied for fifth in the NBA after Sunday’s games. Whiteside was a force against the Toronto Raptors Sunday, scoring 20 points on 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-5 from the foul line, to go with 11 rebounds, six blocks and one steal.
That performance put Whiteside in rarified air, as it is the second time he has hit the 20-point, 10-rebound and five-block plateau since the beginning of last season. The only other player with multiple games with that stat line is Anthony Davis, who has 10 in the same time span.
Whiteside does not have the overall skill set that Davis has, but it is clear that Whiteside is here to stay. He is no fluke, and is an X-factor for the Heat as he can control the defensive end of the floor as an anchor and score enough to keep opposing teams honest offensively. He has an improving low post game, as the Heat are making it more of a point to get him post up touches thus far this season.
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Whiteside should have a ticket to the Air Canada Centre for the 2016 All-Star game. He is proving that last season was no fluke, and is only improving in his second season, and first full one, with the Heat. This season looks like it should be the first of many All-Star games for Whiteside, who is quickly cementing himself as one of the best shot blockers and rebounders in the NBA.