PHOTO: Hassan Whiteside still trying to get NBA 2K rating up

Hassan Whiteside surely has Sept. 25 circled on his calendar.

One of the most avid NBA 2K players around, Whiteside famously said early in his 2014-15 breakout season that his goal was to improve his rating in the game, which he felt was much too low. His remarkable performance saw him get a January boost from a 59 rating to a 77, and he'll likely have an eye on where his rating stands when NBA 2K16 drops this fall.

The Miami Heat center is still campaigning for his rating; the 7-footer was spotted at Las Vegas Summer League on Monday wearing a shirt to that effect.

Whiteside was spotted in the same shirt as far back as February, and it'll probably be a popular purchase in Miami this season.

The fact that Whiteside isn't playing in the tournament is somewhat incredible considering where he was a year ago. In Vegas with the Toronto Raptors, Whiteside was somewhat ineffective and wasn't even given a training camp look by the Raptors. After failing to stay on with the Memphis Grizzlies in preseason, Whiteside got an opportunity with the Heat in November.

The rest of the story is well known. Whiteside emerged as a legitimate rotation player and a core piece for the Heat, averaging 11.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in 23.8 minutes, all while shooting 62.8 percent. He had 20-20 nights, he had triple-doubles, and he talked a ton of smack in the process.

The 26-year-old stands as a shining example that low-cost lottery tickets are a worthwhile endeavor at the end of the roster.