The Miami Heat already have a chip on their shoulder - that's the impact Dion Waiters provides daily. But there might be another player who can provide that type of emotion to the team. With the ratings for "NBA 2K18" out and about, NBA players are beginning to react to their status, as determined by the video game developers. Hassan Whiteside may not be happy with where he ranks in the pantheon of centers in the league.
Place among the Miami Heat greats
Whiteside received an 87 rating in this year's version of the game. That's the highest he's ever been ranked by the makers of "NBA 2K." Last year, he received an 85 rating overall, while the year before that, he received an 81 rating overall in the wake of his breakout season.
Prior to that, his ratings hung somewhere in the 50s, a place reserved for players on rosters who don't get to play much. Still, the Heat center was likely displeased by his rating, judging by a recent tweet of his, relating to "The Walking Dead."
Y'all rating more accurate then 2k lmao 😂 MICHONNE definitely at less a 90 https://t.co/83XS7uqouX
— Hassan Whiteside (@youngwhiteside) August 17, 2017
On the plus side, three strong seasons have earned Whiteside a spot on the team's all-time roster, according to "NBA 2K18." He's not the starting center - that honor obviously belongs to Alonzo Mourning - but he has a spot on the bench. He's joined by former Heat center Shaquille O'Neal in the team's list of reserves, showing that Whiteside has accumulated a decent amount of respect in the team's history.
Where Whiteside ranks among centers
Nevertheless, Whiteside places just sixth on the list of NBA centers in the game. New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins leads the rankings with a 92 overall rating. Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is next at 91 overall. Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is next at 89 overall, followed by Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, each at 88 overall.
That means the Heat center is actually ranked as the best in the Eastern Conference.
According to ESPN's RPM win calculations, Whiteside should actually feel grateful for his rating. He ranks behind all of the players ahead of him in "NBA 2K18" ratings, in addition to Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan and Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner.
It's clear that this is the kind of thing that matters to the Heat center. Whether or not he uses it as motivation next season is a different matter entirely. Logic dictates that he will, however - the NBA should be prepared for anything.
