Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside was once again benched in the fourth quarter, this time during the team's 105-90 loss to the Orlando Magic. However, instead of just sitting on the bench, he was absent when the final buzzer sounded.
Hassan Whiteside didn't play in the 4th quarter tonight so he decided to head to the locker room a little early pic.twitter.com/UWEFiXyChd
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) December 5, 2018
Hassan Whiteside was having a decent game up until his benching, scoring 12 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and swatting three shots in just 24 minutes.
The suspicious absence was brought up to teammate Dwyane Wade after the game, and Wade provided an innocent but questionable response.
Dwyane Wade said Hassan Whiteside had to go to the bathroom, and that’s why he left the bench early. I couldn’t tell how serious he was or if he was even aware of it ahead of the question. It might’ve been his first time hearing that Whiteside left early.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) December 5, 2018
If Wade is right, then Hassan Whiteside's absence is much ado about nothing. However, if the big man skipped out because of his benching, the Heat will certainly be reprimanding him.
Whiteside has a reputation for being temperamental and immature at times. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has benched him at key moments before after defensive lapses and negative behavior on the court.
There is no denying that the North Carolina native has immense talent, but it seems like every time he plays well for a few games, problems like these arise and he is relegated back to the bench.
If the Heat wants to return to the playoffs, Hassan Whiteside could be instrumental in leading the team back. The current roster is lacking in star power and relies on role players knowing their limits while playing with 100 percent effort and heart.
Hopefully, Whiteside can return to being one of the best shot blockers in the league and cut out petty moves like this that damage his reputation.
Follow Us
Subscribe