Hassan Whiteside says he didn't stare down Carmelo after dunking on him
Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside is one of the most intimidating two-way forces in the NBA right now. The 26-year-old is blocking an outrageous 3.9 shots per game while not even averaging 30 minutes a night. That's nearly unprecedented production.
Whiteside's work on offense is equally devastating. He has the second highest field goal percentage in the league and the ninth highest PER. The seven footer dunks a ton, too. And he isn't shy about reminding opponents that he's unstoppable.
Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks were his latest victim:
That's some stare down...or was it?
Either way, Whiteside is a handful, and this wasn't the first time he humiliated one of New York's stars:
Miami's best (healthy) player is also one of this summer's most wanted free agents. An aloof personality, combined with inconsistent nightly effort, is cause for concern. But there's almost no chance some team fails to offer him a max contract:
Those numbers can't be ignored. He has franchise-altering talent, and, with regards to his persona, there's a slight chance he might simply be misunderstood. The dude can be super funny when he isn't throwing cheap shots:
Heat President Pat Riley should probably consider keeping Whiteside around for the next few years.
