A few years ago, Hassan Whiteside was playing basketball in Lebanon, and now he’s leading a team that consists of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Goran Dragic. It’s only been five games, but Whiteside has easily been the Miami Heat’s best player.
So far this season, Whiteside is averaging 13.8 points per game, 10.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks. Anthony Davis is the only other player in the league averaging a double double and three-plus blocks a night.
Whiteside has gotten off to a hot start while most of his teammates have done just the opposite. Dragic is only averaging 12.5 points and 4.3 assists a game, and Bosh is shooting 40 percent from the field. Understanding it’s a small sample size; Whiteside has been the Heat’s best all-around player.
He currently leads the team in rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and player efficiency rating. Whiteside entered Friday night’s game versus the Minnesota Timberwolves with the second best PER in the east, only behind Jeremy Lamb, who’s averaging less than 20 minutes per game.
When the season began, a lot of stress was put on this starting five to gel, but more importantly, they needed Whiteside, a loose canon with an inconsistent past, to anchor the defense and protect the paint. The Heat were hoping that Whiteside could grab enough offensive rebounds to nullify their inconsistent shooting, and block enough shots to make up for their lack luster defense.
Last season, Whiteside proved to be one of the best rim protectors in the league. According to Nylon Calculus, Whiteside led the league in percentage of shots contested at the rim (78.8 percent). He also recorded a very impressive 46.5 percent rim field goal percentage allowed.
Once again, it’s only a small sample size of four games, but Whiteside is proving that last year was no fluke: He’s currently second among centers in blocks per foul (2).
For the Heat, Whiteside’s continued success from last season is a blessing and a curse. With Dragic and Bosh both in a rut, Whiteside has carried this team, especially on defense; but with a looming free agency for Whiteside coming up, every game he plays is increasing the likelihood of a big future contract. A contract the Heat probably can’t afford.
Dragic and Bosh are already under big contracts, and there isn’t much room in the cap to resign Wade and Whiteside unless one of them is willing to take a big pay cut. And after this summer, where Wade signed a one-year $20 million contract, it’s fair to assume he is done giving discounts.
So Heat fans, enjoy Whiteside while you have him, because every game he helps your team wins, get’s him one step closer to a contract your team probably won’t be able to afford.
Fortunately, that problem is still months away. Whiteside’s been the Heat’s best player so far this season, and he’s been the driving force on this team’s defense. Only time will tell if Whiteside is truly a top-five center, or if he’s simply stat-looting on a bad team.