It sounds as if Hassan Whiteside has something to prove this upcoming NBA season. After all, he's had to prove himself time and time again that he belongs in the NBA after being drafted in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2010 draft by the Sacramento Kings and waived two years later. Since then, he's had stints in the NBA D-League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Rio Grande Valley Vipers as well as in Lebanon (twice) and China.

Signed and waived twice by the Memphis Grizzlies before and during the 2014-15 regular season, he had a brief stint with the Iowa Energy of the D-League before catching on with the Heat and quickly making a name for himself. So you could say he has a chip on his shoulder.

After his first full season in the NBA, the Heat had to pay up big time to retain his services and the franchise is now fully invested in Whiteside's future. But he still has much to prove, with the added expectations from signing a four-year max deal worth $98 million. Can he mature to not just be a steady contributor as a starter, but as the total package that can blossom into a full-fledged superstar?

Whiteside posted this message on Instagram, reminding us that he hasn't forgotten all the hard work that has had to put in so far and how it's helped him get to where he is now. When it comes to proving himself this upcoming season, it doesn't sound like he's going to forget this message anytime soon and is more than motivated for the task at hand.