Back in the 2014-15 season, Hassan Whiteside turned a lot of heads when he emerged for the Miami Heat, earning himself a guaranteed contract with the team for that year. He also made a hilarious response when asked about the inspiration behind his play, admitting that he wants to see his NBA 2K ratings go up.
More than two years since that interview, Hassan Whiteside is now rated an 81 in 2K18, and is one of only a few players who received 80 or higher from its developers. The Heat center even received a challenge recently from Ronnie 2K himself, as he promised Whiteside another boost in his rating if he’ll pull off an off-the-board alley oop to himself this season.
.@youngwhiteside If a rookie can do a self alley off the backboard in a game, I know you can. Promised that'd get your rating up
— Ronnie 2K 2K24 (@Ronnie2K) October 24, 2017
The move has already been seen twice this season, as Golden State Warriors rookie Jordan Bell threw one down on Monday late in their game versus the Dallas Mavericks. The next day, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon also followed suit with his own version of it against the Brooklyn Nets.
At 7-feet and having a lot of athleticism, there is no doubt that Hassan Whiteside has the ability to pull it off. However, it still remains to be seen if he can do it in-game, as the opportunity needs to present itself first to him before even attempting it.