Former Kings Center Reportedly Retires From Basketball
The Sacramento Kings selected a gem in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft but did not know it until he left. With the 33rd overall pick, Sacramento took Hassan Whiteside, who would go on to be a two-time block champ, one-time All-Defensive Team, and one-time rebound champ, but none as a King.
After ten years in the NBA and multiple seasons overseas, Whiteside is retiring from basketball (via @elvacilondelbsnofficial | Instagram). While Whiteside has not verbally announced his retirement, the social media page of his Puerto Rican team that he played throughout 2023 has confirmed it.
Whiteside appeared in just 19 games for the Kings in his first two seasons but did not touch an NBA court for two years after that. When the 7'0" big man returned to the league, he became an elite defensive presence with the Miami Heat.
After five successful seasons in Miami, Whiteside would go on to play for three different teams the next three seasons, including another short stint in Sacramento. In 36 games back with the Kings, Whiteside averaged 8.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.
In his prime, Whiteside was an absolute beast. Between the 2014-15 and 2019-20 seasons, Whiteside averaged 14.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. While the Kings did not get the most out of him, many Sacramento fans wonder what could have been if they hung onto him.
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