What Happened to Hassan Whiteside?

Hassan Whiteside is an elite talent that couldn’t make it in the NBA. He had two forgettable seasons during his NBA start with the Sacramento Kings, and it got so bad that he had to play overseas in China and Lebanon after his contract expired.

Whiteside returned to the league when the Heat offered him a max contract, but after four years with the franchise, he wasn’t re-signed. Afterward, Whiteside had 1-year contracts with the Trail Blazers, Kings, and Jazz. And he’s out of the league in 2023.

So, what happened to Hassan Whiteside? Why did NBA franchises reject him?

Who is Hassan Whiteside?

Hassan Niam Whiteside was born on June 13, 1989, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to parents Hassan Arbubakrr and Debbie Whiteside, with six siblings. Whiteside’s parents separated, leaving his mom to fend for the needs of seven children.

Growing up, Whiteside love sports, especially basketball. He played pick-up games with friends and schoolmates and dreamt of making it to the NBA. However, his physique wasn’t built for the sport, and people looked down on him.

His mom Debbie urged him to pursue his passion.

High School Years

Whiteside’s interest in basketball grew during his first high school year at Forestview, North Carolina. Coaches removed him from the team roster in his sophomore year due to his lower height (5’11”), and better players were available to complete the team.

His mom asked for his father’s assistance, so Whiteside moved to New Jersey to play for the East Side High School. He grew by eight inches and showed improvement during his junior season producing 18 PPG, 5 BPG, and 10 RPG.

Whiteside was reunited with his mom in his senior year and played for two schools; Hope Christian Academy and Patterson Academy. His star shone at Patterson leading his school to 34 wins in 36 matches. Sports agencies ranked Whiteside as one of the top centers of the 2009 high school class.

College Career

Whiteside had offers from various colleges but picked Marshall University Thundering Herd under coach Donnie Jones. 

Whiteside was an unknown at the start of the 2009-10 season but gained attention when he collected 14 points, nine blocks, and 17 boards in a win over the Ohio Bobcats on November 28. The feat was surpassed in the coming weeks. Whiteside registered his first triple-double, 17 points, 11 blocks, and 14 boards; for the Thundering Herd in a rout (105-54) against the Brescia Bearcats on December 12. Whiteside recorded two more triple-doubles during his lone year at Marshall University. By season’s end, he was the leader in the swats department with 182 for the most blocks by a freshman in a single season and had averages of 13.1 PPG, 5.4 BPG, and 8.9 RPG.

Riding high on the accolades from his sterling performance, Whiteside decided to move on and join the 2010 NBA draft after coach Donnie Jones headed for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights.

Overview of Hassan Whiteside NBA Career

In his ten seasons in the NBA, Whiteside played for four teams, including the Sacramento Kings, Miami Heats, Portland Trail Blazers, and Utah Jazz. Whiteside played 511 regular season games with 332 matches as a starter; his career average was 12.6 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 2.2 BPG. Check out Hassan Whiteside highlights during his NBA career.

Sacramento Kings (2010-12)

The Kings chose Whiteside as the 33rd pick in the second round of the 2010 NBA Rookie Draft. These were two forgettable seasons in which he played only 19 matches and did not help Whiteside to jumpstart his basketball career. 

In his first game against the Minnesota  Timberwolves, Whiteside’s left knee suffered a torn patellar tendon which required surgery, putting him out for the rest of the 2010-11 season. 

In 2012, Whiteside recovered from his injury and was reassigned to play for the Reno Bighorns in the NBA G League. The Kings called Whiteside up to fill the team’s roster, but he played for just 18 games and was waived by the franchise after the season. 

Whiteside packed his bags with no takers, joined the NBA Development League teams, and played internationally for teams in China and Lebanon from 2012 to 2014.

Miami Heat (2014-19)

In November 2014, the table turned. Whiteside got a call from the Heat franchise, offering him a two-year, partially guaranteed contract. Whiteside was under the radar of the injury-riddled Heat during his two-year NBA hiatus. Coach Erik Spoelstra had high hopes for the big guy to fill up what the team needed.

On January 2015, Whiteside produced his first double-double (23 points and 16 rebounds) in a win over the Clippers. The feat was followed by his first career triple-double (14 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 blocks) for a win against the Bulls. Whiteside’s achievement was entered in the NBA record book as the fourth player in 25 years with a  production of no less than 12 markers, 12 boards, and 12 swats in a match. Also, he joins Manute Bol to be the sixth man to block 12 shots within 25 minutes. Whiteside had a double-double average per game (11.8 points and ten rebounds) during his debut season with the Heat and took the fourth spot in the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

In the 2015-16 campaign, Whiteside continued his remarkable performance playing 72 games averaging 14.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks. He recorded his third triple-double and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team. The Heat was in the third spot in the  Eastern Conference; it was Whiteside’s first playoff appearance. They beat the Hornets in the first round but fell short against the Raptors in the second round.

Whiteside was at his usual deadly form, with 26 points and 22 rebounds, in the Heat’s  2017-18 season-opening game loss to the Magic (109-116). He suffered multiple injuries and had to be sidelined for several games; bruised knee (five games), a bone bruise in his left knee (11 games), and a hip injury (nine games).

Whiteside was at his usual deadly form, 26 points and 22 rebounds, in the Heat’s  2017-18 season opening game loss to the Magic (109-116).  He suffered multiple injuries and had to be sidelined for a number of games; bruised knee (five games), bone bruise in his left knee (11 games), and a hip injury (nine games)

In season 2018-19, Whiteside registered 12.3 PPG, 11.3 RPG, and 1.9 BPG. But he came down with a hip injury relegating Whiteside to a reserve role in March 2019.

Portland Trail Blazers (2019-20)

Whiteside was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in July 2019. He recorded ten blocks to beat Bill Walton’s nine to hold the Trail Blazer’s record for most blocks in a single game.

Sacramento Kings (2020-21)

In his ninth year, Whiteside returned to Sacramento for a one-year contract bringing a league-leading 2.9 BPG and the third-best rebounder with 13.5 from his Portland stint.

Utah Jazz (2021-22)

Whiteside was a free agent after his contract with the Kings expired. The Jazz signed him as a sub for Rudy Gobert, but Whiteside’s contract wasn’t renewed when the season ended.

Is Hassan Whiteside Still in the NBA?

After Whiteside’s contract with the Utah Jazz ended, no offers were made from any NBA teams. He signed up with the Piratas de Quebradillas team on March 14, 2023, to play in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN), a professional basketball league in Puerto Rico.

What Happened to Hassan Whiteside?

Despite his impressive numbers, Whiteside was unsigned after his contract with the Utah Jazz ended. 

Criticisms have been attached to his name.  

Former Mavericks’ coach Jason Kidd said he couldn’t put the ball in the basket. He was seen to be immature and has low basketball smarts by ESPN Insider Tom Haberstroh.

Whiteside’s career scoring average is 12.6 speaks for itself, and he has a deadly 58.6 field goal percentage which means that every ball release will likely sink. He can impact the game in a myriad of ways. Whiteside’s 10.8 rebounds per game give his team opportunities to score, and his 2.2 blocks per game cuts about four points from the opponent’s score.

A team with great chemistry and organizational cohesion can correct Whiteside’s red flags.

Wrapping Things Up: What Happened to Hassan Whiteside?

Whiteside’s box scores are better than other big men, but he’s out of the NBA’s 2022-23 season. Where is Hassan Whiteside playing?

Whiteside is playing for the Piratas de Quebradillas team in a professional basketball league in Puerto.

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.