
In case you may have missed it, the 2025 Rising Stars game rosters for All-Star weekend were released Tuesday. Miami Heat sophomore wing Jaime Jaquez Jr., who’s admittedly had a down season after being a top-5 rookie last year, was selected to the team.
However, Heat first-round rookie Kel’el Ware was not, even though the 7-foot big man is currently the betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year voting.
Though one of the 10 rookies selected–Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain, who was selected (16th overall) one pick after Ware (15th) in the 2024 NBA Draft–is out for the season with a torn meniscus suffered in mid-December.
Kel’el Ware Should Be Frontrunner As Injury Replacement:
If you scale back, it’s easier to why Ware didn’t make the 28-man field initially.
He’s only played in 30 of the Heat’s first 45 games after being out of the rotation up until the last month. For the season, he’s averaging 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and one block on 56.5 percent shooting, 42.6 percent from 3-point range (1.8 3PA) and 72.7 percent from the free-throw line. Most of the aforementioned players in the frontcourt–such as Yves Missi, Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, etc.–have been in their respective rotations for the entire season when healthy.
Ware, however, has arguably been the best over the last month. Since the turn of the calendar, however, he’s averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks on 57.4 percent shooting and 46.5 percent from deep (2.9 3PA) in 24.4 minutes per game (15 games). Zoom into the last eight, he’s tallying 16.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 29.9 minutes on 53.6/45.2/91.7 shooting splits.
Even with his lack of consistent run in the Heat rotation, he’s fifth amongst rookies in win shares, third in win shares per 48 minutes and box plus-minus while tying for the rookie lead in value over replacement player.
He’s been remarkably impactful on both ends of the floor, which is a true testament to how the Heat brass has developed him over the last several months. Shout out Malik Allen, Caron Butler and, most importantly, Erik Spoelstra, among others.
Others who could be in the conversation include Chicago’s Matas Buzelis, Utah’s Isaiah Collier and Detroit’s Ron Holland. Though neither has consistently been as impactful–even though all three have played more minutes than the 20-year-old center. Buzelis is likely the second man up because of his two-way prowess, but he is no “Warewolf.”
Who knows: Perhaps the NBA picks based on the position, thus eliminating Ware from the conversation because he’s not a guard. But that frame of logic would be a true disservice since the 21 rookies and sophomores will be drafted onto three teams of seven players apiece. Why not add the most deserving player, even if he’s a big?
Do you think Kel’el Ware should be deserving of making the 2025 Rising Stars game? Let us know in the comments!
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From The Sporting News:
“Here’s a hypothetical four-team concept between the Heat, Suns, Kings, and Spurs that is cap compliant:”
In this hypothetical move,
Absolutely!
Kel’el Ware’s 2024-2025 stats:
That would be 2 in there for the good guys