Shaquille O'Neal on Hassan Whiteside Heat Rant: He Needs to Understand Strategy

Shaquille O'Neal said Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has a "legitimate beef" after his rant about a lack of playing time late in games, but added he must learn to "understand strategy." 

On Wednesday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald provided Shaq's advice based on his own experiences during a Hall of Fame career.

"But he needs to understand strategy," O'Neal said. "If I was him, I would say OK I'm going to [let] coach do what he do, but I'm going to get a rest. Because playoff time when the game slows down, they're going to need you, big man. Don't let all that stuff [bother you]. I know as a player we want to play all the games. But I didn't win championships until I had 15, 20 games off."

Whiteside expressed his frustration March 31 following the team's 110-109 overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

"A lot of teams don't have a good center," he told reporters. "They are going to use their strengths. It's bulls--t. It's really bulls--t, man. There are a lot of teams that can use a center."

The 28-year-old North Carolina native received an undisclosed fine from the organization following the remarks. He expressed regret Monday about how he handled the situation, per Shandel Richardson of the Sun Sentinel.

"I was just frustrated, man," Whiteside said. "I was frustrated that we lost. I really wanted to get that game ... I could have handled it different. But I got so caught up in wanting to get that win. I get real competitive. I really want to be out there. But I just trust coach's decision."

Jackson noted O'Neal, who played for the Heat from 2004 through 2008, was supportive of the team's current head coach, Erik Spoelstra, saying he "knows what he's doing" when he switches to a smaller lineup to match up with opponents down the stretch.

Whiteside was back on the floor Tuesday night, tallying 18 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes—the lowest total of any Heat starter—in a 101-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.