Miami Heat: Looking at the other side of Hassan Whiteside’s recent comments

What’s really going on with Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside?

There have been some strange narratives regarding the Miami Heat this season. However, the latest ordeal with Hassan Whiteside may take the cake.

Following an ugly loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, the big man couldn’t hold back anymore, and went on a rant to the media. His commentary stemmed from frustration over Miami going small for almost the entire second half, resulting in him being benched. He questioned the team’s strategy, wondering why the Heat wanted to match up, when they could have utilized his size.

"“A lot of teams don’t have a good center,” Whiteside said. “They are going to use their strengths. It’s bulls—. It’s really bulls—, man. There are a lot of teams that can use a center.”"

This then led to perhaps the most surprising part of it all: Whiteside questioning if he has a future with the organization.

Management clearly had enough of his behavior though, first sending a public relations official to cut the interview short, and then fining the 28-year-old an undisclosed amount. The reason listed? “Comments detrimental to the team.”

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Whether or not Whiteside was just blowing off steam after a must-win contest, he certainly rubbed not just his team the wrong way, but fans as well. Those belonging to the infamous Heat Twitter immediately expressed their opinions, most stating they are ready to see the big man move on.

Between pointing out that he’s only played in 49 games this year, and throwing out statistics like Miami being outscored by 76 points with him on the court, those no longer confident in Whiteside made some strong arguments for why a trade could be beneficial for the Heat.

However, there is another side to the story.

While it’s often said that our past doesn’t have to define our future, it certainly has an impact on who we are in the here and now. And in Whiteside’s case, his road to stardom hasn’t always been easy. Although he was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2010, he had to spend some time in both the Developmental League, as well as overseas, before finding his footing in the NBA. In fact, it took four years for the North Carolina-native to make his way back to the league.

So, it’s easy to understand why he has a chip on his shoulder.

And even though it may seem silly for Whiteside to still feel the need to prove himself, after getting a maximum contract last offseason, it’s all he’s ever known.

Which is why maybe the 7-footer deserves a break.

Lashing out, especially to the media, is never a good idea. But considering the loss, his continued minutes restriction and the general public recently having turned on him, on top of being overlooked his entire career… perhaps it’s best to just write his outburst off as a mistake, and move on.

Next: Is it realistic for the Miami Heat to aim for the Boston Celtics?

Whether or not Whiteside should continue on with the Miami Heat is another story, but for now, let’s try to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.