Miami Heat's Hassan Whiteside is considered as one of the best defenders in the league today. But a scout thinks that the big man has the capability of becoming one of the most dominant players out there. He just needs to change his work ethic.
As reported by Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, a long time NBA scout in the Eastern Conference said that if Whiteside only played hard every night, he could be one of the league's most dominant big men. For the scout, Whiteside is just one step away from being an All-Star:
“Could be a dominating center if he played hard every night and didn't get in his own way. Do that and he could be close to an All-Star.”
Whiteside, the 33rd overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in 2010, has slowly risen as one of the NBA's defensive elites. In his first two years in the league, he didn't receive ample playing time with the Kings. But when he signed with the Heat, Whiteside's court time bumped to over 20 minutes per game and he rewarded Miami's trust with a breakout season, even earning him a hefty payday.
Last season, despite the injuries, he was able to average 14 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. There is no doubt about his defensive capabilities. In 2016, he led the league in blocked shots and was named into the All-NBA Defensive Second Team. In 2017, he led the league in rebounds.
Given the facts, the scout's evaluation of Whiteside is warranted. The big man sure can play. It's now his choice if he wants to elevate his game to the next level.
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