While it’s definitely not the biggest sample, Miami Heat rookie Kel’el Ware has not only been one of the NBA’s top big men in Summer League, but one of the best rookies of the entire 2024 class.
The Heat have played six total games through Summer League–three in the California Classic and three in Las Vegas, where all 30 teams showcase their young talent from recent first-round draftees to potential undrafted gems.
Summer League isn’t always the greatest determining factor for how good any single player might be in the NBA. Some shine just in the summer, but don’t develop to become reliable NBA players over an 82-game season for their careers. That said, you always want your best young talent to show promising flashes in Summer League. And Ware, drafted No. 15 overall in the 2024 draft, has done just that.
In three Las Vegas Summer League games, Ware has averaged 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game on 66.4 percent true shooting. It’s a very small three-game sample, but here’s where he ranks among 141 qualified rookies in multiple notable Summer League statistics entering Thursday’s action:
- 17.3 PPG (8th)
- 8.3 RPG (6th
- 2.3 BPG (T-7)
- 66.7 eFG% (24th)
- 66.4 TS% (31st)
- 25.6 DRB% (10th)
- 17.5 REB% (14th)
- 7.8 BLK% (12th)
- 24.6 PER (T-7)
Kel’el Ware’s Las Vegas Summer League stats amongst 141 qualified rookies so far, per @RealGM:
🔥17.3 PPG (8th)
🔥8.3 RPG (6th)
🔥2.3 BPG (T-7)
🔥66.7 eFG% (24th)
🔥66.4 TS% (31st)
🔥25.6 DRB% (10th)
🔥17.5 REB% (14th)
🔥7.8 BLK% (12th)
🔥24.6 PER (T-7)#HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/3OkvIhnzMl— Matt Hanifan (@mph_824_) July 18, 2024
He capped off his most recent performance with a 24-point, 10-rebound, 3-block showing against the Dallas Mavericks on 9-of-12 shooting and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line.
In five combined games, those averages equate to 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks on 59.8 percent true shooting, all above-average marks.
Ware, who turned 20-years-old in April, has shown just about everything you’ve wanted to see from him over the last couple of weeks sans his perimeter shooting. His inconsistent form led to missing all five of his 3-point attempts in the California Classic, though he’s gone 2-of-5 from deep in Vegas (20.0 percent in total); from the charity stripe, Ware’s shot 57.1 percent from the free-throw line in both San Francisco and Vegas, netting 12 of his 21 total free-throw attempts.
Ware’s motor, which was his biggest pre-draft question, has looked incredibly strong thus far, which has been very encouraging to see. He’s running the floor, crashing the defensive glass and rim-running aggressively offensively. Ware’s been a big target for Miami’s guards, flashing some
He hasn’t shown he can switch into space, but he’s been solid in drop–despite some inconsistencies with his disposition, mobility and hand activity–and has already shown improvement with his discipline as a shot-blocker.
The 7-foot big has done a good job establishing position in the post, using his right hand to primarily finish over both shoulders. That comes despite needing to improve his lower-body, core and upper-body strength (plus pliability) to better finish through contact and not get pushed off his spots–all of which comes with time. It’s not unnatural for bigs not to have NBA-ready bodies yet. That comes with time.
All in all, it’s hard not to be impressed with what Kel’el Ware has showcased on both ends of the floor. None of this means he will be the top rookie or one of the top rookies come the 2024-25 season because the context for all 30 teams will be different. Though he’s shown he has the requisite tools to work with and refine, which could make him an impactful rotation player next year.
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Pelle with rhe 3 and 1
Need a game thread. Ware with the jam from Stevens
Durant to the heat rumors popping up againCoolio would u trade kd for jjj
Not possible because they’re a 2nd apron team, the only trade they can do is a straight up trade for Jimmy.
100% correct unfortunately.
ty n dunc jjj for kd
westbrook to nuggets.did u have russ on your radar coolio?
A couple of years ago. Too erratic now. Hell of a player in his day.
Josh better?whos guarding brunson maxey?
westbrook to nuggets there goes another brunson maxey stopper.uh pat u there?
That’s an excellent news. Another contender eliminated.
Wow, the tenor around here has certainly changed since last week.
When I left for vacation, people were calling the Heat offseason a bust. Now we’re arguing about whether or not Ware should be starting before he even plays a minute of NBA basketball! Meanwhile, on the Blazers website, they’re all arguing over whether they made a mistake drafting Clingan instead of Ware!
Count me amongst those that doesn’t think Ware will start. Not because he’s not good, I legitimately have no idea. But the NBA season is long, and the Heat want to play deep into the playoffs, and you can’t rely on a 20-year old kid that has played 60 games of college basketball over 2 years to last an an entire 6-month, 82-game season, and then be ready to step up his game for the playoffs.
I think the Heat want to start the season with Bam, Jovic, Butler, Herro, and Terry. Ware can come off the bench with Love, JJJ, Duncan, and probably Burks. Drusky and J-Rich will eventually come back from injury, T-Rob can play in case of emergency, and hopefully Alondis can crack the rotation. Injuries notwithstanding, that’s probably the plan for the season.
As I’ve said many times over the past few years, the Heat didn’t win the offseason, but they can still win in the postseason. Let’s see if they can keep this group healthy. If they can, I’d like to see what they can do. I’m not expecting a Championship, but I certainly think they can beat any team in the East over 7 games.
There is a disappointment with this offseason, no doubt about that. We all expected more.
But my opinion is, that Heat has so many issues, that cannot be fixed easily with adding a player or two. Its about to add more size, talent, shooting etc.
This is just the first step, add more size. Heat did that with Ware, which is the step in the right direction.
Boy looks solid in summer league, so this was a good pick. But he wont start, unless something unexpected happen. Bam-Jovic frontcourt combo was good last year, so I dont expect any changes here. But there could be some decent minutes for him playing as a backup center with Bam as power forward or as a stretch four with Love or the other way around.
He is not a needle mover, that’s for sure. I ll be happy if he become a rotation player in his rookie season.
Heat will be better, if there will be some improvement from Jovic and JJJ, and if Jimmy will play as he should. Maybe even Herro can do a step forward to become stronger defender.
The rest is health.
So, this offseason is more like a first km of marathon. I prefer this more then all in trades for players of questionable quality (for winning championship), like Mitchell, Bridges, Derozan, George, just to try to win it all till Butler is still impactful player.
Those players, I mentioned, all played in strong teams, but they failed to win it all in the past. I dont expect them to do it in their new teams.
You hit on our team’s dilemma, trying to win it all while Jimmy is still an effective player. And that is where all the concern lies. We appear to have fallen short of that goal, despite getting a promising big man.
After such offseason is more or less clear, that team will not chase Jimmies window at any cost. That could mean a Butlers trade till February, or relatively short extension to stay in Miami.
There was no player available this offseason, which could make difference, so I m not against Heat didnt do a big trade . They also drafted fine.
But they failed to get good role players.
Between getting JRich, Highsmith, Love back, acquiring Burkes, Ware. Larsson (and unsigned players) I think they did pretty well. Now they just need to trade Herro and eventually Butler.
agree, I thought this offseason was the year of “adjusting to the second apron”. Depending on what happens with Jimmy’s contract, that might also be the case next offseason. Heat took their medicine this offseason, a lot of second apron teams will have to do the same eventually.
I don’t think the Heat are as eager as the fans to trade Jimmy or Tyler. I think they are loyal to Jimmy, and he’s earned it. But if they stink next season, they’ll trade him to a contender. I think Tyler is too young and too good with too little trade value. I doubt he’s going anywhere.
double rec this. I love Jimmy, but he no longer fits the timeline.
The Heat spent the last three drafts adding Jovic, JJJ, and Ware. Tyler Herro is only a year older than those guys, at 24. Bam is the oldest at 27. This is a good young team built around an aging superstar, and they sent the message this offseason that they’re not building around an aging superstar.
I don’t think that means they’re definitely trading Jimmy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he opts out next offseason for a longer contract with less per year. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if they trade him to the Lakers in February.
I think the last offseason sent a clear message that the over-30 generation is aging out, and the under-30 generation is taking over.
whered u go im going to europe next week heat bro.no post for me for 2 weeks .rcs celebrating
Lost Lake on Mt Hood. An Oregon paradise. Have fun in Europe, drink some good wine
I just got back from blazers blog, it was some pretty entertaining stuff, that they was talking about ware, and clingan. Some of them also were saying SL stats doesn’t matter, and there was talk of eating hats, if ware ends up being better then clingan lol.
Hey, tell them to eat the hats now since we were talking about Ware before the draft. Tell them to get a real GM 😉
Did you notice that nfl (as in ‘negative’) has already called Larrson garbage after typically astute observations of 2 or 3 summer league games, rather than a 4 year college career? Lol. And acting as if he discovered and is the agent for Ware?
I had to quit the Blazers blog. Too many people that are happy being losers.
I spent the past three years watching the Blazers sit their starters and lose games on purpose so they could get a higher draft pick. And who do they have to show for it? Scoot, Sharpe, and Clingin. Not bad players.
Three years ago the Heat had the best record in the East, went to the Conference Finals, and then went to the Finals the next year. And they just added Jovic, JJJ, and Ware. Maybe not future all-stars, but no worse than the Blazers rookies.
I just can’t talk basketball with a bunch of people who want to tell me how great losing is.
It looks like another score.
Cant judge yet,Pre season.Ill judge mid season.
Dude, if I know anything I know you’ll be judging him throughout the season, game by game. Don’t be too harsh on him, he just turned 20 and his last name isn’t James.
Like what i see versus guys who prob will be working at home depot in a few weeks.Lets see vs nba talent sun.Ilike what i see so far for sure.
thank god we didnt draft brony
Id give the Heat a solid A for the recent draft picking this kid. Heat is again talk of other team’s fan base. Just check sbn site. Cnt wait for regular season…Go Heat!!
THE WAREWOLF IS A MONSTAR !
Ware has shown a lot of positive signs. He is off to a very good start.