We are less than three weeks away from the 2024-25 NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, Calif. While we wait who this year’s All-Star reserves are–announced Thursday–the Rising Stars Game rosters were revealed Tuesday!
To many people’s surprise, Miami Heat first-round rookie Kel’el Ware did not make the initial roster, which was composed of 10 rookies, 11 sophomores and seven G-Leaguers. However, sophomore wing Jaime Jaquez Jr. made the Rising Stars roster for the second straight season!
Kel’el Ware is the current betting favorite for Rookie of the Year, though most of his emergence has occurred over the last month when he cracked the rotation full-time. He’s averaging 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and one block on 56.5 percent shooting through 30 games.
Though over his last eight, he’s tallying 16.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 29.9 minutes, shooting 53.6 percent from the floor, 45.2 percent from 3-point range (3.9 3PA) and 91.7 percent from the free-throw line. He’s also fifth in win shares and third in box plus-minus amongst rookies, despite playing in a limited role for most of the season.
Jaquez, meanwhile, has struggled this year. He’s looked physically compromised for most of the season, averaging 9.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 44.2/31.7/75.2 shooting splits.
The soon-to-be 24-year-old has been better since the turn of the calendar, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals on 48.7 percent shooting and 44.4 percent shooting from deep, albeit on low volume. When there’s been clarity with his role, he’s performed better–that hasn’t always been the case.
The Heat’s No. 18 overall pick in 2023 was selected for the Rising Stars Game last season. In his only game, he had six points on 3-of-4 shooting with two rebounds and three assists.
Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain–drafted one pick after Ware–was selected. But he was ruled out for the season with a torn meniscus in January after suffering the injury in mid-December. Perhaps Ware is a favorite to be his injury replacement–in addition to rookies such as Chicago’s Matas Buzelis, Utah’s Isaiah Collier and Detroit’s Ron Holland.
At least we know the Miami Heat will have at least one representative for All-Star weekend!
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The Warewolf will use this as motivation. He rides at dawn, sheep beWare.