Hassan Whiteside was a high second-round pick by Sacramento in 2010, but he spent most of his first two professional years in the G-League. Following this, he played overseas for the next two years in Lebanon and China, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP. Encouraged by his success in Asia, Whiteside decided to give the NBA another chance, this time with Miami, and he was successful in making a name for himself.

Whiteside became the Heat's starting Center in the 2014-15 season and proved his defensive worth. The following season, he won the Blocks Title (3.7), was third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and was a Second Team All-Defensive Selection. He won the Rebounding Title the year after (14.1) and was fifth for the DPOY. He had two more good years with Miami before he was traded to Portland, where he won his second Blocks Title (2.9). Whiteside played two more seasons, one with Sacramento and the other with Utah, before retiring.