Following another dominant performance on both ends, Hassan Whiteside stated he is the best rim protector in the NBA.
The center of the Portland Trail Blazers had 16 points, 22 rebounds and seven blocks in the 113-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“I’m a defensive guy. I feel like I’m the best rim protector in the league. It’s not even close,” Whiteside said, per Dwight Jaynes of NBC Sports.
“I feel like it’s that way with blocks. When I came into the league my first year with the Heat, I averaged almost four blocks a game.
And then the year after that, I led the league in rebounds and it was like, ‘Why didn’t he average four blocks? Is he not trying?’ And that was kind of a different era – a lot of three-point shooting. There was less scoring in the paint,” he added.
Whiteside has been averaging 15.7 points, 13.4 rebounds and a league-high 2.7 blocks this season, with Portland being at 14-16.
