Heat's Hassan Whiteside Says He's Looking to Meet LeBron James at the Rim

There aren't many NBA players who can guard Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, but Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside isn't going to back down from the challenge.

If James goes to the rim when the Heat and the Cavaliers meet in Cleveland on Wednesday, Whiteside is going to be there waiting for him.

Update from Wednesday, Feb. 11

LeBron James talked about Whiteside and the comments on Wednesday.

"He's huge, very long, athletic. But just a big guy. And he has a really good touch, as well," James said, via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "I'm happy for the kid...even though he thinks I'm just a good player. I'm happy for him."

As for Whiteside, he learned that he has to be very careful with his words—especially when he talks about a superstar. Here's how Whiteside responded to how his comments are blowing up, via Winderman:

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'You all just blew that up way out proportion,' he said, with James' reference actually the first mention of Whiteside's comment beyond the context of a throwaway line from the Heat center. 'But, man, I don't even know what to say. I don't got nothing to say.'

Whiteside then quietly and politely said 'I don't got nothing to say' four times, before asking a member of the Heat's media-relations staff, 'Let me know when my time's up.'

"

It looks like Whiteside might be starting to handle the media in a Marshawn Lynch-like manner.

--End of Update--

The 7'0" Whiteside, who is averaging 2.5 blocks per game this season, has become a rim protector for Miami. If an opponent is driving to the basket, the center's job is to stop him—it doesn't matter who is coming down the lane.

Here's what Whiteside had to say about facing James, via ESPN's Michael Wallace:

Whiteside doesn't know James, but at least he knows that the Cavaliers superstar is a "good" player.