The Miami Heat don’t just give up on their players.
With all the hate he’s been receiving lately, one would think Hassan Whiteside had a tremendously poor 2017-18 run.
When in fact, his campaign was merely average. Mediocre. Uninspired.
Looking at the numbers alone, averaging 14.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game on the year doesn’t seem half bad.
The problem becomes that most people expected more out of the Miami Heat center. And for good reason too.
After all, just a season prior, he had averaged 17.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per contest. He even started this past year off by recording a whopping 26 points and 22 rebounds during the team’s first matchup, on October 18.
Is it understandable for fans to feel disappointed? Absolutely. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a star player to live up to his role. But it’s unfair to cast Whiteside aside, after just one average season.
Especially given how much of the 29-year-old’s recent struggles were due to injuries.
Now Heat Nation may still not be sympathetic to the big man’s adversity, but it seems like the organization is.
According to reports, head coach Erik Spoelstra has been in contact with Whiteside recently and is eager to to see what he’ll bring to the table by the beginning of 2018-19.
"“We’ve gotten together for lunch, in constant contact on the phone and in texts. Like many things in this league, it’s not what it seems on the outside. It’s pretty normal NBA life. I’m looking forward to the start of the season with a healthy Hassan. I know he’s looking forward to that. And we still have a good part of the summer to get better.”"
Obviously Spoelstra is far from having given up on his headliner.
President Pat Riley isn’t ready to move on from the Heat center either. During his exit interview, Riley spoke on what it would take to get Whiteside back on track.
"“The disconnect between he and Spo that’s going to take a discussion between them and it’s going to take thought on the part of coach and also Hassan.”"
Seems perfectly reasonable, especially given he didn’t place the blame exclusively on either party. And clearly both sides listened to Riley’s advice, choosing to put the team’s well-being before anything else.
While there are arguments to be made that it would have been understandable for the front office to try and start fresh without Whiteside, the fact that they instead chose to work through the issues speaks volumes.
Just like Miami’s players never give up on themselves, their teammates or the organization, the Heat live by the same principals.
Whiteside didn’t have the best on-court campaign last year. And he could have done a better job of handling himself off of it too. But that doesn’t mean that his talent is lost. Or that he isn’t worth the effort anymore.
There’s just work to be done.
Something that the franchise is no stranger to.
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Even fans that are over Whiteside should still be applauding the Miami Heat for standing by him.