Whiteside gives thanks as NBA 2K rating rises again

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside is very concerned about his player rating in the NBA 2K video game series. During his breakout season with the Heat in 2014-15, he openly lobbied 2K Sports about the situation, frantically racking up real double-doubles in an effort to enhance his virtual number.

This summer he further tried to get his NBA 2K rating up - by wearing a T-shirt that said "Trying to get my NBA 2K rating up."

Mission accomplished. His rating is up to 81 for NBA 2K16, due out Sept. 25.

Whatever works as motivation for Whiteside. The former second-round pick has this coming season left on his contract at $981,000. He's going to want to get that rating up even higher, because that would correlate with a very large payday.