Credit: AllUCanHeat.com
Hassan Whiteside – Rebound Magnet
Russell Westbrook, James Harden, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and DeMar Derozan—among others—have clogged the floodgates of NBA headlines with their stellar play to begin the 2016-17 season. A statistic that’s been under looked is Miami Heat star Hassan Whiteside’s monster average of 14.8 league-leading rebounds per game throughout 29 games. After every miss, Whiteside is on the prowl to haul in rebound-after-rebound.
Though the rebounding numbers may not stay above 14.0 all season, Whiteside is on pace to have the best rebounding season in Miami Heat history. Alonzo Mourning, a one-time NBA champion (with Miami) and eleven-year Heat veteran averaged 11.0 rebounds per game in his best rebounding season with the team. Shaquille Oneal recorded 10.4 rebounds per game in 2004-05 with Miami. Compared to two of the best centers in league history–though O’Neal was out of his prime with Miami–Whiteside’s rebounding numbers in 2016-17 are jaw dropping.
Hassan Whiteside’s force on the boards alone has led to many second chance points for his teammates, giving them more opportunities to score the ball. Whiteside accounts for about 30% of his team’s rebounds, and of course, leads Miami in total rebounds (14.8), offensive rebounds (4.2) and defensive rebounds (10.6). Having Whiteside in position for a rebound after each shot allows Heat players the green light to let it go; they know the 7’0” giant in the paint will clean it up.
Whiteside has two 20-point, 20-rebound games in 2016-17 and four in his career. His four career “20-20’s” are twice as many as Shaquille O’Neal (1) and Alonzo Mourning (1) combined.
Hassan Whiteside was once a nobody in the NBA D-League and had no shot at staying on a roster for an entire year. He matured, improved his game, and eventually found a home with the Miami Heat. Whiteside is now looked as the Miami Heat’s franchise player, and he deserves all of the success he is experiencing. His first All-Star appearance is imminent.
