- Dwyane Wade’s emphatic 2-word reaction to ‘iconic’ photo of LeBron James and son Bronny at Staples Center
- Report: Jimmy Butler expected to return to Miami Heat lineup for Monday’s game vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- P.J. Tucker shares incredibly inspiring message after receiving championship ring from Milwaukee Bucks
- Tyler Herro joins Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley in Miami Heat history
- Giannis Antetokounmpo boasts that Khris Middleton’s dunk on Jimmy Butler lives rent-free in his mind
- Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo likely to miss Milwaukee Bucks game vs. Miami Heat
- NBA world rips Miami Heat’s punishment for violating rules in pursuit of Kyle Lowry: ‘It was as toothless as a defanged animal’
- 3 Miami Heat players that need to step up with Bam Adebayo sidelined
- Report: 5 players not traveling with Miami Heat to play Indiana Pacers
- Ray Allen thought he missed his epic game-tying shot in Game 6 of 2013 NBA Finals
Miami Heat News: Hassan Whiteside Finishes Third in Defensive Player of the Year Voting
- Updated: April 18, 2016
Despite being the league’s top shot blocker, Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside finished third in voting for the 2015-16 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard won the award for the second straight season and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green came in second place.
Whiteside led the NBA in blocks per game (3.7) and total blocks (269). His closest competition was Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, who played in more games and finished with 177 blocks on the season. The Heat big man rejected the most shots in a regular season since Marcus Camby blocked 285 shots in 2008. The Marshall University product was also the league’s fourth best rebounder (11.8) and notched three triple-doubles with blocks.
Still it didn’t give Whiteside a strong enough case to get the media’s attention. During the voting, players were awarded five points for first-place votes, three points for second-place votes and one point for each third-place vote.
Leonard accumulated a total of 547 points and 84 of the 130 first-place votes while Green received a 421 points and 44 first-place votes. Whiteside finished with just 83 points and acquired the only other two first-place votes, one of which came from Heat television play-by-play man Eric Reid.
Although Whiteside didn’t get the award that he campaigned and longed for, the 26-year-old still managed to have a fantastic season. The center’s rise from no-name to third best defensive player of the year, behind two starting All-Stars on historic teams, is a monumental jump for the fourth-year pro. Whiteside will likely make the NBA All-Defensive first team and is in contention for Most Improved Player of the Year.
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