J-Speaks: NBA Broken Records by Top Pick and Journeyman

There are a lot of talented players in professional sports. What separates player with talent from a talented player is their ability to play consistently night in and night out. Their willingness to put in the time when no one is looking in the offseason and during the season. Some are able to do it right out the gate, while others it may take a while. When that player does put it all together, amazing things can take place. This past Friday night, a former 2011 first round pick of the Golden State Warriors put on the greatest scoring output in NBA history and 24 hours later on national television a former 2010 second round pick in a short period of time had one of the best all-around games in NBA history and set a new Miami Heat record.

Last Friday night, the Western Conference leading Golden State Warriors (36-6) defeated the Sacramento Kings (16-27) 126-101 at home to garner their 18 win in a row at home, a new franchise record, bringing their record at Oracle Arena to 20-1 and their seventh straight overall win over the Kings.

Starting two guard Klay Thompson, lead the way with a career-high 52 points going 16 for 25 from the field, including going 11 for 15 from three-point range, which tied a Warrior record. Thompson fell one three-point make short of tying Los Angeles Lakers’ future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant who scored 45 points  making 12 of 18 three pointers in a 119-98 victory versus the then Seattle Supersonics on Jan. 7, 2003. On Mar. 13, 2005, the Toronto Raptors forward Donyell Marshall tied the NBA record going 12 for 19 from three-point range scoring 38 points to go along with 10 boards off the bench in a 128-110 win versus the Philadelphia 76ers.

He also went 9 for 10 from the free throw line with five assists four steals and two blocks.

He scored an NBA record 37 points in the third quarter going a perfect 13 for 13 from the field, which includes a perfect 9 for 9 from three-point territory and 2 for 2 from the charity stripe.

Thompson surpassed New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony, who scored 33 points in the third quarter back in a game back 2008 and San Antonio Spurs Hall of Fame forward George Gervin, who scored 33 points in a game in the second quarter back on the last day of the NBA season back on Apr. 9, 1978. On that same day, Hall of Famer David Thompson had 32 points in the last game of the season in the first quarter. The late great Wilt Chamberlin had 31 points in the first quarter in a game back in 1962.

“I can’t believe I have an NBA record. It’s surreal,” Thompson, the 11^th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and the son of NBA champion Mychal Thompson said to NBATV’s Rick Kamla, Steve Smith and Dennis Scott after the game last Friday.

“I was getting some great looks. It was a fun night to say the least.”

Less than 24 hours later in front of a national television audience, former second round pick center Hassan Whiteside had the first triple-double of his career with 14 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high, an NBA high for a single game this season and a new Miami Heat (20-24) record 12 blocks in the team’s 96-84 win at the Chicago Bulls (29-17) this past Sunday afternoon.

Whiteside who averaged 12.1 points, eight boards and three blocks in the last eight games coming in recorded his triple-double in an NBA record 24:37 seconds.

The 12 blocks were 5 short of former Lakers Elmore Smith who recorded 17 blocks in a game back in 1973-74 NBA campaign.

Also on this same date back in 1986, the late center Manute Bol of the then Washington Bullets had 15 blocks versus the Atlanta Hawks.

The prior record for recording a triple-double in a short amount of minutes was done by former Raptors center Marcus Camby who did it in 30 minutes in a game back on Apr. 19, 1998. He did it again as a member of the Denver Nuggets back on Mar. 16, 2008 when he had 13, points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a then NBA tying record 27 minutes in a 168-116 win over the Supersonics.

“I’m just trying to win every game. I’ve got great teammates and just came out and just try to get a win every night,” Whiteside, who had his third game of this season recording five-plus blocks said to NBA on ESPN/ABC’s Heather Cox after the game.

Both of these performances were very special not just because of they came in victories, but they each told the story of their hard work and how both Thompson and Whiteside are reaping the rewards individually as well as for their teams.

This past summer, Thompson along with fell backcourt mate Stephen Curry, also known as “The Splash Brothers,” were two big reasons Team USA won Gold in the FIBA World Cup Games in Spain this past summer.

They have both carried that over into this season for the Warriors, especially Thompson, who signed a four-year $70 million contract extension earlier this season.

He has more than lived up to that extension with career-highs of 22.8 points per game on 48.1 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three-point range.

He has especially stepped things up on the defensive end, where each night he matches up against the opposition’s best player on the perimeter.

That high level of play along with his incredible performance four days ago more than guaranteed him a spot as a Western Conference reserve for the 2015 All-Star taking place in New York, NY next month. The reserves for both the Eastern and Western Conference will be announced this Thursday at 7 p.m. during the pre-game show on TNT.

Four years ago, Whiteside was a second round pick (33^rd overall) by the Kings out of Marshall University.

Things unfortunately did not work at with the Kings and he bounced around the NBA’s Developmental league as well as played overseas in China and Lebanon.

Just a few months ago he was working out at the YMCA in Charlotte, NC hoping to get a call from an NBA team.

That opportunity came on Nov. 24, 2014 when Whiteside signed with the Heat.

He recorded the first double-double of his career with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Heat’s 88-84 win versus the Brooklyn Nets (18-26) back on Jan. 4.

Seven days later, he had the best game scoring wise of his young NBA career with 23 points to go along with 16 rebounds, two steals and two blocks as Miami won at the Los Angeles Clippers (31-14) 104-90.

“It’s different because I got a coach [Erik Spoelstra] who will play me, so I get to play,” Whiteside said after the game.

“You can’t get on the court without a contract. I called the Clippers for a workout, they said no. I called every team for a workout, they said no, except the Heat. The Heat gave me a chance and, I mean, it’s only right for me to give 110 percent effort every time.”

That effort has given the Heat a presence in the middle who can score at the offensive end as well as rebound and block shots at the defensive end.

Just ask Bulls forward Taj Gibson who had five of his shots rejected by Whiteside last Sunday.

Whiteside’s play has also given the Heat another weapon at the offensive end to go alongside mainstays Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Luol Deng, who had tremendous performances on Sunday at the Bulls.

Wade scored 12 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter. Bosh had 20 points and seven rebounds and Deng, who played for the Bulls for a decade had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

For a team to be successful, especially one that has its sights on winning a title, each player no matter how big or how small their role may be, each player’s role is important.

Thompson is a major part of the Warriors not only because of his ability to stretch the floor offensively and to play the top wing players in the league defensively, but he allows the likes of Curry, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut, Marreese Speights and Shaun Livingston to be at their best. It has also made the transition a lot easier for first time head coach Steve Kerr, who will be coaching the Western Conference All-Stars in New York next month.

The ever improving play of Whiteside has allowed Bosh when their on the court together to play his natural position of power forward and has kept him fresher during games where he does not have to constantly battle in the paint against the opposition’s center, especially on the glass.

His play has also helped the defending Eastern Conference champs win more games as they have won their last two games and five of their last eight. They are currently in the seventh spot in the East and are two games behind the 6^th place Milwaukee Bucks.

The NBA is filled with talented players. Some get their chance right away and some take it and never let it go and others let it slip by. Thompson got his chance and he has made the most of it for himself and the Golden State Warriors, who have emerged as a serious title contender. Then there are some players who scratch and claw just to get an opportunity. That was the position of Whiteside when this season began and the Miami Heat gave him a chance and he is delivering.

Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of www.search.espn.go.com/hassan-whiteside; www.search.espn.go.com/klay-thompson; www.espn.go.com/nba/teams; www.espn.go.com/nba/standings; en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donyell_Marshall; en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Camby; www.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=250313028; en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Whiteside; 1/24/15 3 a.m. edition NBATV’s “Gametime” with Rick Kamla, Steve Smith and Dennis Scott; 1/26/15 1 a.m. edition NBATV’s “Gametime” with Rick Kamla Jerry Stackhouse and Brent Barry; 1/26/15 6:30 p.m. edition of NBATV’s “The Starters” with Trey Kerby, J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas and Leigh Ellis.