LAS VEGAS – A side of pro basketball not often thought of by the average fan is what families have to endure when players are scattered all across the world.
Such is the case with Shayne Whittington.
Whittington was born in Michigan, attended high school in Michigan and played college ball at Western Michigan. But when he went undrafted in 2014, Whittington played 27 games in parts of two uneventful seasons with the Indiana Pacers before his basketball odyssey took him overseas, where he’s been playing for the last three years.
Sure, Whittington, who is on the Dallas Mavericks’ summer league team, said playing overseas affords him a nice paycheck so he can feed his family. But the reality is, for the 6-11, 245-pound center, there’s no place like home.
“I’ve got a wife, I’ve got a kid and our family wants us to be back in the states,” Whittington said. “We enjoy being overseas, but it’ll be a lot easier if we’re in the states.
“So that’s a lot of the motivation that we have going forward.”
That motivation is highlighted by the fact that Whittington’s daughter will turn 2 years old on Aug. 1. And he would like for her to be able to grow up while living closer to his family.
Thus, although Whittington signed a contract last December with Movistar Estudiantes in Spain, he’s been working diligently on the Mavs’ summer league squad with high hopes of securing a contract in the NBA.
“But in my mindset if it doesn’t happen, we’re still set, we’re still good, we’ve still got a job overseas,” Whittington said. “So I’m thinking of this (summer league) as a win-win.
“If I do play well enough, all right, cool, we’ve got a contract here. If I don’t play well enough, all right we’ve got a contract overseas. So it’s up in the air.”
The Mavs have been pleased with the play of Whittington. In their four summer league games, the Paw Maw, Mich., native is averaging 11.5 points and four rebounds in only 19 minutes per contest, and is shooting 56.7 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range.
What’s more, Whittington rescued the Mavs with his cerebral play down the stretch of Wednesday’s gutsy 79-71 victory over Croatia. He finished that contest with a game-high 19 points — including scoring six of their final eight points when the game was still undecided – and he added two blocked shots.
“He has made some solid plays,” coach Mike Weinar said. “We’re trying to build confidence in him to take and hopefully make those open shots, but really it’s not about taking and making them.
“It’s about making the right play for not only himself, but the team, and he certainly did that (Wednesday).”
Whittington, 28, has come off the bench in all four games this summer and has proven his worth every time. In the four games, the Mavs (3-1) were in the plus category in each game whenever Whittington was on the floor, including a plus-19 against Croatia and a plus-21 during Monday’s 105-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
“He’s a really good player, very talented,” guard Josh Reaves said. “As a team we’re going to have to adjust to him and make reads off him because of his skills.
“He’s a great rebounder, really good at communicating off screens, switching, he can move his feet and he can shoot the ball. So he’s a really talented player.”
Whether Whittington’s talent can catch the eyes of the numerous NBA scouts, general managers and player personnel directors on hand watching the summer league is anyone’s guess. But it’s safe to say Whittington is anxiously awaiting a call from any of the 30 NBA teams.
“The last five years, it’s been fun,” he said. “It’s been a struggle, obviously.
“I was with the Pacers for one year, then went down to the D League that second year and then went overseas for a while.”
In making an honest assessment of his performance in Las Vegas, Whittington was quite frank.
“I feel like I’ve played solid,” he said. “Yeah, I think there’s a few things that I can probably fix and do a little bit better. I think everybody can.
“But everyone’s their own worst critic. So I’ve just got to keep playing the game and letting it flow.”
Whittington doesn’t know if he has a solid shot at making the Mavs’ final roster next fall.
“That’s up in the air,” he said. “I’m focusing on just playing hard here and playing well here. If something happens, something happens. If not, then it’s been a blast so far.
“I feel like I’ve carved a nice little spot for myself in Spain, but I feel like this is my last chance (to play on an NBA team). If I want to make it back, this will be the chance to do it.”
Which would be a blessing for himself and his family.
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