Does DJ Khaled have a positive impact on Hassan Whiteside?

The numbers say that DJ Khaled has a positive influence over Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside.
Does DJ Khaled have a positive impact on Hassan Whiteside?
Does DJ Khaled have a positive impact on Hassan Whiteside? /

Miami-based producer/mogul/Snapchat legend DJ Khaled is a very big supporter of his Miami Heat, and a friend to many of the players on the team. His best friend, perhaps, is center Hassan Whiteside, who has made regular appearances on his critically-acclaimed Snapchat stories.

Whiteside appeared in the music video for “I Don’t Play About My Paper,” a song on Khaled’s new album, I Changed A Lot, and frequently spends time at the producer’s house.

Watch: DJ Khaled takes floor after Heat game, makes shot, gloats

As it turns out, Whiteside has benefited from DJ Khaled’s presence at Heat games:

game

result

points

rebounds

blocks

Nov. 8 vs. TOR

W, 96–76

20

11

6

Dec. 5 vs. CLE

W, 99–84

7

9

5

Dec. 22 vs. DET

L, 93–92

16

16

4

Dec. 25 vs. NO

W, 94–88 OT

8

17

4

AVERAGES

 

12.8

13.3

4.8

Stats: Russell Wilson should tweet less before games

As you can see, Whiteside has surpassed his season averages (12.6, 11.0 & 4.0) when Khaled stops by American Airlines Arena.

It gets even better — Whiteside has averaged 14.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game in the three games he’s played after hanging out with DJ Khaled the night before.

VISIT DATE

NEXT GAME

POINTS

REBOUNDS

BLOCKS

Dec. 12

Dec. 13 vs. MEM

9

11

0

Dec. 20

Dec. 22 vs. DET

16

16

4

Dec. 27

Dec. 28 vs. BKN

18

11

5

AVERAGES

 

14.3

12.7

3.0

Aside from that Dec. 13 game against the Grizzlies, Whiteside has been a menace after eating Chef Dee’s cooking, taking a soak in Khaled’s hot tub and embracing his lion statue.

We’ll see if this trend continues throughout the season, but one thing is certain, so far the relationship that the 26-year-old bigman has with Snapchat’s king is a major key to his success.


Published
Kenny Ducey
KENNY DUCEY

Kenny Ducey writes baseball, basketball and off-beat stories for SI.com. He is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, and an editor at Baseball Prospectus.