It shouldn't be taken lightly when retired Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Bob Cousy compares an NBA player to the great Bill Russell, given Cousy has never made such a comparison before. But after witnessing Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside's breakout season, Cousy believes the comparison is warranted: Whiteside's defense and rebounding ability remind him of his former teammate, Russell.
It's accurate to say Whiteside has come out of nowhere. Sacramento drafted him in 2010, but he spent the last two seasons overseas and in the D-League before signing with Miami in November. Since then, Whiteside has been on a tear, averaging 11.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in just 22.6 minutes per game. His 41 games this season with the Heat were enough to convince Cousy to say something he's never said before.
"I have never said this in the 40 years since I retired," Cousy said in a recent telephone interview with the Telegram, "but he is the first big guy, not (Patrick) Ewing, (Hakeem) Olajuwon, Shaq (O'Neal), who reminds me defensively and on the boards of Russell. He runs the floor well, he has excellent timing, he blocks shots and keeps them in play the way Russell did. ...
"I don't get excited too often about these guys," Cousy said, "but this kid looks to me like a turn-around guy. This kid moves to every rebound, he just reacts to everything on the defensive boards and he reacts the way Russell did. He leaves his man and comes over to help. He'll block five or six shots a game and he catches them. The league hasn't caught up with him yet."
Cousy was so impressed by Whiteside he even suggested the Celtics should trade three first-round picks to Miami for him.
Russell, of course, is considered one of the all-time NBA greats. He won 11 NBA titles and five MVPs, retiring after 13 seasons with career averages of 15.1 points and an astounding 22.5 rebounds per game.
Whiteside, who'll likely land a huge payday when his contract expires after next season, was flattered by the comparison.
"That's a great honor," Whiteside said before the Celtics hosted Miami Wednesday. "Everybody knows that Bill Russell is probably one of the best shot blockers that ever lived. That's really a big honor that he thinks of me that way."
