Growth isn’t linear for any young player, and no player has been a better example of that than Miami Heat big man Kel’el Ware.
However, the 7-footer has taken a sizable leap in just his second season. Through 29 games, he’s averaging 12.5 points and 10.7 rebounds on 66.1 percent true shooting. After recording 15 double-doubles through a 64-game roller coaster rookie campaign, Ware has already logged 12 so far this season.
However, his latest one etched himself into Heat history forever.
Heat’s Kel’el Ware made history Sunday against Knicks:
Throughout the Heat’s three-game road trip, Ware was masterful. Though Sunday dominant performance against the New York Knicks — despite the result — was the cherry on top.
The second-year big tallied a team-high 28 points with 19 rebounds on 11-of-15 shooting and 5-of-7 from 3-point range. While the final scorebooks did eliminate a rebound from the stat sheet, Ware still became the first Miami Heat player ever to tally 28 points, 19 rebounds and five made 3-pointers in a single game.
Ironically, the last player who did that was a player — Karl-Anthony Towns — he squared off against. Ware is one of only eight players to ever accomplish that feat, with no player doing it twice in their careers.
- Chris Boucher (2021-22)
- DeMarcus Cousins (2017-18)
- Rashard Lewis (2001-02)
- Reed LaFrentz (2000-01)
- Bill Laimbeer (1990-91)
- Kevin Love (2010-11)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (2024-25)
- Kel’el Ware (2025-26)
“I like the things that he’s doing,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said after Sunday’s loss. “Everybody on the outside will just notice the stats. He’s doing winning things. It’s not always just about the stats. He’s come a long way. He’s improving. I want him to play with confidence.
“Kel’el’s improving vastly.”
Ware is 11 of his last 14 from 3-point range while averaging 24.7 points and 15.0 rebounds over his last three games. Even though there’s some inconsistencies with his box outs and body positioning on the glass, he’s also developed into one of the league’s better rebounders, using his 7-foot-5 wingspan and 9-foot-5 standing reach to his advantage.
“I felt good,” Ware said after Sunday’s game. “Just with more reps and more reps I’m gonna get it down. Get used to knowing how far I can be from a guy and figuring out my length better.
“That’s the main priority: Go out there and get rebounds. The points will come throughout the flow of the game.”
As the 21-year-old — yes, he’s still 21!! — continues to learn the nuances and develop more consistency, the sky is the absolute limit. It’s a process; again, growth isn’t linear! Though Ware continuing to stack incredibly impactful games, and build winning habits, will not only benefit him in the short-term, but the long-term.
The Miami Heat return home to play the Toronto Raptors Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. EST.
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Since being reinserted in the starting 5 (over the Heat’s last three games), Ware is averaging 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks on 71 percent shooting from the floor. What makes it even more impressive is the fact that Ware is shooting 75% (12-16) from 3-point range and 48% for the season.
The Heat’s core is solid. What the team needs is a high scoring SF and a solid back-up PF/C. If you throw in a very good two-way PG and move Mitchell to back-up PG, that would be ideal.
Make it happen Pat.
P.S. What are you doing to resolve the Rozier mess? The fans deserve better!
ja derozan nurkic /kessler trade ty wiggy jovic dav picks,should be enough tobeat the hated knicks.pats not the same these days use to do whatever he wanted.alot of it had to do with d wade being here
Ja Morant:
has played an average of 51 games per year, prior to this seasonhas played in 14 of this year’s 28 games (50%)is averaging a career low 17.7 ppgis averaging a career low 19.4% 3 pt is a worse defender than Herrois averaging 3.6 turnovers per game
DeMar DeRozan
is an excellent back-up SF, mid range shooter and closerhas another year left on his contractgood trade for Rozier’s expiring contract
Nurkic/Kelser
Danny Ainge looking for someone to fleeceprefer a younger, less expensive option for back-up big
TY, Wiggy and Jovic should be traded
It may be easy to trade Wiggins by the deadlineHerro and Jovic not so much
DAV is a keeper
good back-up PG and defensive closer
to get something u have to give up something.jas game is to acrobatic lends to high degree of injuries.needs to adjust his game sort of like d wade did.its hard to be real good when your pg averages single digits.has there ever been a decent pg with ppg under dav 10.wiggins is def tradeable lebron would love to have him,.i would do a hachimura wiggins deal give us little more size.i can promise u goldin would surprise u guys and keshad should play over simone.im done with simone need thoroughbreds to make it hard for other teams to score.
he was ready from day 1 kept on saying that by now he’d prob be a top 10 player in the league.hes a rising star.that just has to want to be great.work at your craft and just try to get better and he can be a ss very shorlty
Obviously he wasn’t
i believe he was only problem bam was kind of in his way,bam knows hes big # 2 now he knows kelel the better player.i knew that pretty early little before u sort of like wade and lebron wade knew lebron was better player so he was ok being #2 .sort of like rc and hfl here rc knows hfl #1 poster lol
As you can see below, qualified college and nba people recognized the areas he needed to improve on. I saw it too. There was no doubt the talent was there. I saw that too. But I think you also had your share of comments about his effort and focus early on and even several times this season.
when your on the bench and u see guys on floor your much better than that would piss the hell out of me.bam just has to get the f out of his way and be a good teammate for a superior player
My point is, he wasn’t better than Bam in the beginning or even at the start of this season. He had all the tools but needed to sharpen them up. Now he is becoming a dominating player and it’s great to see.
I think being #2 in rebounds, 3 point shooting, blocks and media attention is messing with Bam’s head. Plus, I wonder how much he’s being distracted by his romantic relationship. He seems a little twitterpated.
he was at all of ajas wnba games.he has to take a backseat to ware do more of the dirty work.swallow your ego bam your still being paid max $$$.i just wish ware would get a little nastier hes to nice on the ct.zo needs to take him in the film room show him his bad ass attitude
The primary “knock” or criticism against NBA rookie Kel’el Ware entering the draft was his inconsistent motor, focus, and work ethic. Concerns were raised about his tendency to go passive during games and his need for external motivation despite his high physical potential and skill.
Please do not trade Ware! That would be a totally incompetent decision by Miami.
I hope we don’t trade him either , he’s our bright future.
Probably all of us agree we need to keep Ware.
We need, but if there is Greek available, we wont. Sad, but true.
Hot take: Honestly I would rather get kawhi , so we can keep ware.
to get kawhi prob have to part with bam.ty and wiggy not sure thats enough and they dont want norm back
I was thinking about that too…
i wouldnt trade a breaking down older greek for ware straight up .
That is a HUGE change of heart from how you felt before. I completely agree with keeping Ware, but I would be ecstatic to have a Ware/Giannis front court.
whats greeks window 3 years wares prob 10-12.greeks a better player right now but wares a baby.i said take any three but ware and lets do a trade.not two take any three.bam wiggy ty hopefully we can retain norm.keshods better overall player than simone.arent u tired of simones suckiness i am how long does it take to bench a scrub player jeez
As you should have read above, I would love to keep Ware and add Giannis. Have them together the next 3 years and the sky’s the limit. I would also play Keshad over Simone even though he doesn’t shoot well from distance.