Miami Heat big man Hassan Whiteside had a career game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
After erupting for a career-high 23 points and 16 rebounds in 104-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon, Miami Heat big man Hassan Whiteside called out Clippers head coach and president Doc Rivers for his refusal to workout the seven-foot tall big man during the offseason. Whiteside, who was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 33rd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, punished the Clippers frontline all afternoon long, holding Clippers center DeAndre Jordan to four points and single-digit rebounds for the first time in 15 games.
Whiteside, 25-years-old, couldn’t find his niche with the Kings after getting drafted and spent time playing in the D-League as well as China and Lebanon. Whiteside also spent time with the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Summer League and was invited to training camp by the Memphis Grizzlies before being released in November and scooped up by the Heat.
Whiteside’s emergence as a legitimate NBA big man and rim protector has been one of the many feel-good stories of the young season. As for Rivers and the Clippers, they may be slamming themselves for passing up on Whiteside as they are in desperate need of depth, especially in the frontcourt as back up center Spencer Hawes has been less than solid for Los Angeles this year.
