After a slow NBA adjustment, 7-footer Kel’el Ware is raising the Heat’s ceiling

Even in a historically poor year for the incoming class, it may be too late for Kel’el Ware to campaign for this season’s NBA Rookie of the Year award. Regardless, Ware is drawing rave reviews from Miami Heat teammates and coaches as he continues adjusting to the pros.

Miami’s had an inconsistent season for myriad (and obvious) reasons. The Jimmy Butler drama, blown leads and untimely losing streaks have been the chief causes for consternation for the Heat. Coach Erik Spoelstra maintains a pulse on what his team needs on a given day, even if it tests the patience of curious fans and observers who want to see Ware get more opportunities to flash his promise, raise Miami’s ceiling and offer glimpses of its future.

On Sunday, previews of that potential became more prominent as Ware logged his most extensive playing time alongside teammate Bam Adebayo, who has mostly held down center minutes for Miami since becoming a full-time starter more than five seasons ago. As the Heat logged a 128-107 home win over Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs, Ware and Adebayo recorded 13 minutes of playing time together after entering the matchup with a two-minute sample size. Altogether, Miami’s budding frontcourt duo is holding opponents to 32 percent shooting when they’re on the court and 57.1 points per 100 possessions to yield a 54.6 net rating.

Yes, that is a 15-minute sample. As their time together grows, there will be some regression to the mean. But it’s quite clear the 7-foot tall Ware, who leads the team in blocks per game despite ranking 10th in total minutes, can raise the Heat’s ceiling after patiently moving toward the rotation.

For most of the season, Adebayo, who has since become a three-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has jokingly suggested Ware should be grateful for any burn he gets on the court as a rookie, seeing as Adebayo barely averaged 20 minutes during his first two NBA seasons. But Adebayo, an annual anchor of a defensive juggernaut, sees the upside of highlighting Ware for a team often short on shot-blocking. After Sunday’s win, he predicted being able to get “a couple of All-Defensive teams out of my young fella.”

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“He’s 7-1. You can’t teach height,” Adebayo adeed on Tuesday after shootaround in preparation for the night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. “But also he’s athletic, coordinated, can jump, rebound, block shots. And he has a motor, so, you add all those tools together, you can get a couple DPOYs out of that.”

Since December 29, Ware has contributed minutes impactful enough to stand out for any Heat player, regardless of tenure. His massive wingspan makes it difficult for opponents to comfortably attempt shots near the basket, often forcing unnatural adjustments and contortions to get off a clean attempt. Although Ware and Adebayo have played sparse minutes together, the latter can comfortably be spelled thanks to Ware’s ability to protect the rim.

Last week against the Lakers, Ware almost immediately rejected — practically punched — an Anthony Davis hook shot attempt en route to holding the latter to 1-of-5 shooting for the game. Notice Davis trying to get the shot off as quickly as possible upon receiving the entry pass, but to no avail. Ware finished the matchup with eight points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in fewer than 18 minutes of play.

On Sunday, Ware was seemingly everywhere on defense, whether it was limiting Wembanyama (2-of-10 shooting when guarded by Ware) or forcing other Spurs like Keldon Johnson into an awkward hop stop before sending the shot back.

“I love it. Nah, for real, I do love it,” Tyler Herro said. “It gives small guys like myself protection behind us, definitely on defense and at the rim. It gives a different dynamic offensively too.”

On Sunday, Adebayo credited Spoelstra for trusting his own coaching and development process by committing to what could be a true game-changer for the Heat, both for the rest of this season and the years ahead. Spoelstra has been patient with bringing Ware along, preferring the rookie to make it obvious why he should (or shouldn’t) be on the court.

Ware spent some time with the team’s G League affiliate this season, but he never let his confidence waver, whether due to his own internal belief, Adebayo’s mentorship or Spoelstra’s approach. Earlier this season, Kevin Love expressed enthusiasm about Ware’s potential as a two-way big in an ever-changing NBA, noting the rookie’s willingness to get better, be coached and maintain a patient temperament even when Ware was fresh off his two-game stint with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Beyond Ware’s defensive impact, he also shows great promise as a lob option, floor-spacer and passer on offense. He ran some two-man game with Duncan Robinson on Sunday, which was eased by Ware’s viability as a roll threat forcing the Spurs to focus on him as Robinson was freed up for a drive.

Later in the matchup, Ware drew some strong side attention from Wembanyama and his Spurs teammates before dishing an interior dime to Adebayo for a floater near the rim. 

“Oh, man, when you have a 7-footer that can do what he do,it makes your life really, really easy.” Jaime Jaquez Jr. said Tuesday. “Being able to knock down shots, stretch the floor while also being a tremendous roll threat (is an asset for a team). Every time he goes down, bigs gotta make the decision to stop the layup or stop the lob, and that’s a very tough decision to make. … We got to know each other during pre-draft a little bit, so I’m really proud of how he’s come along.”

( Top photo: Issac Baldizon /  Getty Images )