While Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside’s value across the NBA has took a significant hit in recent years, he still has all the requisite tools to make a big impact.
Looking to make a name for himself as a largely unknown product out of Marshall University, Whiteside had to battle through D-League stints before earning a role in Miami. On his journey, Whiteside says a certain Heat legend really aided his growth into a quality player: Chris Bosh.
In a recent sit down with Bleacher Report, Whiteside expresses how much Bosh has helped him and that he misses him as he remains away from the sport.
Whiteside would sign a four-year, $98 million contract on July 1. Bosh, a central figure in Whiteside’s life, has been gone since the big payday, due to recurring blood clots.
“Bosh helped me a lot,” Whiteside says now. “I really need to reach out to him; I know he’s going through a lot. I don’t know if he’ll hear this, but I miss him. I miss him a whole lot.”
As mentioned, Bosh is currently away from the game for the foreseeable future due to health complications caused by blood clots. Bosh was a part of Miami’s LeBron James era and was a member of the club from 2010-2015, making the All-Star game each season.
As for Hassan Whiteside, the enigmatic big man will have to pull it together without Bosh in his corner. Once one of the most dominating interior forces in the NBA, Whiteside has seen his role diminish thanks largely to an almost non-existent offensive skill set and lack of an outside jumper.
Now with two years still left on his contract and a depleted Eastern Conference, Whiteside will have ample opportunity to prove himself as a true franchise cornerstone in Miami.
