Whiteside emerging as a bright spot from trying Heat season

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MIAMI (AP) β€” The surprise and perhaps only good development so far in this Miami Heat season has been the emergence of a center who not long ago could only find work in Lebanon and China.

Hassan Whiteside hopes he’s in the NBA to stay now.

He’s fast become a fan favorite in Miami, a new development for someone who probably was only known by the most ardent of NBA fans a few weeks ago. He’s averaged 12.1 points and 8 rebounds per game in January, not exactly superstar numbers but far better than any other stretch of his limited time in the league.

He plays with a chip on his shoulder, driven by having been rejected by so many other NBA clubs when all he wanted was a tryout.