From the Kings to China, via the D-League and even Lebanon, Hassan Whiteside traveled a lot at the beginning of his career. The former best blocker in the NBA ended up settling down at the Heat in 2014, with the success that we know him for, and it was Pat Riley himself who took care of the test with an exercise of which he has the secret.
“Pat Riley came personally to train me. It was the hardest training of my entire life. Literally,” Whiteside remembers. “He came in in a suit, his hair slicked back. It was to the point where I almost passed out before the end of practice.. »
Pat Riley has always had a reputation for acting like a military man in training, but also for having a nose for rare gems. More than once, the Heat GM has recruited undrafted players who have succeeded with Miami, like Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent.
A mental test more than a physical one
For his part, Whiteside had been chosen in 33rd position of the 2010 Draft by the Kings, but he had only played 19 games in the NBA and he had not played in the Major League for two years before this tryout. Pat Riley therefore challenged Hassan Whiteside to prove to him that he deserves to join the Heat.
“There was nothing technical,” specifies the pivot in the podcast of Udonis Haslem. “It was just all-court dunks. He said, ‘Lick your hands and hit the backboard as high as you can.’ I licked my hand and hit the backboard as high as I could, catching all kinds of germs. I must have done like 120 dunks in a row!”
Mike Miller, who played for the Heat between 2010 and 2013, and Udonis Haslem, who hosts “The Ogs Podcast”, clearly recognize the former coach's methods. “One thing about Coach Riley, he just wanted to see if he could break you.”Miller explains. This is confirmed by Haslem, who had been intimidated by his former coach: “IHe knew the talent was there, but he wanted to see how you were mentally.”
