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NBA Stock Exchange: Key Veterans and Summer Mistakes

By Adam McGee

Jan 16, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) controls the ball against Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Miami Heat defeated the Sacramento Kings 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) controls the ball against Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Miami Heat defeated the Sacramento Kings 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 30, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) shoots a foul shot before a game against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) shoots a foul shot before a game against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /

Buy: Hassan Whiteside As The League’s Best Rim Protector

With every passing day it gets more and more difficult to believe just how long it took Hassan Whiteside to get a real opportunity in the NBA.

Sure, there were notable concerns over his attitude and temperament (not that they’ve completely disappeared either), but when you’ve got abilities like this 26-year-old, the risk can be worth the potential reward.

Seventeen games into his first full season with the Miami Heat, that’s exactly what seems to be playing out too. The Heat have always needed someone to help anchor the paint to free up Chris Bosh, and even with unlimited resources they likely couldn’t have found many players capable of filling that role better than Whiteside.

Both his points and rebounds have gone up this season as Whiteside is now averaging 13.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. He’s as efficient as the league’s best centers too, averaging just below 60 percent from the field, yet none of this is what’s most impressive about his play early in the season.

Everybody was impressed by the rim protection that Whiteside offered last year, but I’m not sure anybody knew quite how good he was.

In only 29 minutes of play, the North Carolina native is racking up 4.5 blocks per game, translating to 5.6 blocks per 36 minutes. That’s a phenomenal pace, yet one that doesn’t necessarily feel unsustainable either.

If Whiteside could complete the season, even allowing for a small drop off, averaging four blocks per game, he’d join an incredibly elite group of shot blockers in the history books.

Only Mark Eaton, Dikembe Mutombo, Manute Bol, David Robinson and Elmore Smith have achieved full seasons averaging over four rejections per game within their first five years in the NBA.

If Whiteside grows into being anything like any of those guys, Miami will have picked up one of the greatest bargains in NBA history.

Next: Raised By Wolves