Hassan Whiteside

Hassan Whiteside's Biography

Hassan Whiteside was born on June 13, 1989, and is an American former professional basketball player famous for his exceptional skills in blocking and rebounding. Raised in Gastonia, North Carolina, Whiteside’s life was far from easy. He was one of seven children raised by a single mother. He attended three different high schools in two years: Hunter Huss, Ashbrook, and Forestview. Following his junior year, Whiteside moved to Newark, New Jersey, to live with his father.

While in New Jersey, Whiteside became a standout player at East Side High School, averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.5 blocked shots per game. He then returned to North Carolina for his senior year, attending the Hope Christian Academy and The Patterson School where he teamed up with future Marshall teammate DeAndre Kane. The duo’s impressive performance led Patterson to a 34–2 record and the No.1 national ranking. Whiteside went on to be rated as the No. 19 center in the Class of 2009 by Scout.com, and the No. 87 recruit in the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com.

Whiteside chose to play college basketball for the Marshall Thundering Herd. His performance garnered national attention as he demonstrated high-scoring skills in multiple games, including scoring 17 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and blocking 11 shots leading to a 105–54 victory over the Brescia Bearcats. Whiteside went on to lead the nation in blocked shots with 182, breaking records in Conference USA and Marshall University. This was the highest record in a single season for a freshman since 1990–91.

Following his successful year at Marshall University, Whiteside declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA draft. He was drafted in the second round by the Sacramento Kings. However, Whiteside’s career with the Kings was challenging due to injuries and limited playtime. He then spent time with the Kings’ D-League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, and later underwent surgery to repair a partially torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

In 2012, Whiteside was acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. He was later traded to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and even spent time overseas, playing for the Lebanese team, Amchit Club, and the Chinese NBL team, Sichuan Blue Whales.

After a brief stint with the New Jersey-based Jiangsu Tongxi and playing in the Summer League with the Toronto Raptors in 2014, Whiteside was eventually signed by the Miami Heat. His career took off as he became a top performer for the team. He earned the NBA All-Defensive Second Team honor in 2016 and led the NBA in blocks that same year. A year later, he led the league in rebounding.

Despite a few incidents—including a fight with Phoenix Suns’ Alex Len and an altercation with Boston Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk, resulting in fines and suspension—Whiteside continued to excel. He finished fourth in the NBA Most Improved Player Award voting and averaged a double-double with 11.8 points and 10 rebounds per game in his first season with the Heat.
Whiteside continued his impressive run with the Heat, leading them to the playoffs several times. He broke several records, earning accolades for his fierce rebounding ability and blocking skills. After a successful experience with the Heat, Whiteside was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. His first season with the Trail Blazers saw him leading the league in blocks once again.

Whiteside’s journey from Gastonia to being one of the most formidable NBA players is an incredible testament to the power of resilience and hard work in overcoming numerous personal and professional challenges.