He may have signed a max contract last summer with the Miami Heat, but that does not reflect how difficult it was for Hassan Whiteside to reach this point of his career.

After being drafted 33rd overall in the 2010 draft, the 7-foot-center bounced between the Sacramento Kings and their D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns. Whiteside failed to impress and showcase his natural game which led to the Kings waiving him after two seasons. He failed to find another team and found himself working out in a YMCA gym just two years ago as a free agent, until the Heat offered him a roster spot. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Now, Whiteside is considered one of the better centers in the league. Last season was a breakout year for him as he averaged a double-double with 14.2 points and 11.8 rebounds to go along with a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game. Not only did he prove to himself that he belongs in the NBA, but also to his former teammate, DeMarcus Cousins, who never doubted him.

Cousins was impressed with his skills and even thought he was a better player than him before. He also said that he always believed that Whiteside had what it takes to be in the league, per Anthony Chiang of the Palm Beach Post.

“I remember days it would just be me and him working out one-on-one and he would kill me. His talent has always been there. … At one point, I thought Hassan was a better player than me. Everything he’s doing now, I thought he was capable of doing then.”

And when asked what his motivation is now that he's already secured a lucrative deal, he made it clear it's more than the money and that almost everything he does motivates him.

“I’m motivated when I just wake up. I’m a guy that’s really motivated. I wake up in the morning and I eat breakfast, I get more motivated. I look at my fish tank, I get even more motivated. I come in here and I see Spo’s face and say, ‘What’s up Spo,’ and I get even more motivated.”

If he continues to further develop his game and keep his positive mindset, he may be included in future conversations for the best center in the league, together with DeMarcus Cousins.