Nikola Jovic seemingly has the edge to earn the last Miami Heat starting spot over Kel’el Ware, but is Erik Spoelstra making the right move?
The Heat are entering the new 2025-26 season without their starting lineup being made official yet.
Tyler Herro’s absence opens a spot for Davion Mitchell to step up in the backcourt. But even with Herro’s injury creating a hole, that’s not even the biggest question mark—especially for fans and analysts closely following roster changes and considering trends in NBA basketball betting, where early-season lineups can shift odds dramatically.
Instead, the frontcourt alongside Bam Adebayo is still up in the air. The Heat had started emerging rookie big man Kel’el Ware at the center position the entire second half of last season.
However, Nikola Jovic was injured at that time, and now he seems to be the favorite to earn back his own starting spot that he held in the majority of the 2023-24 campaign two seasons ago.
Jovic was recently signed to a four-year contract extension that has him earning an average of nearly $15 million annually. That’s starter money.
The Heat have been clear with their faith in the 6-10 forward, as each of the front office and coaching staff seem committed to Jovic’s growth.
He started turning heads after a great run in the Euro Basket this summer. Jovic has responded well to the Heat’s system over the years, gaining noticeable weight, muscle and knowledge. His skills as a lengthy playmaker and creator have always made him an intriguing player on the Heat’s roster— and with Herro sidelined to begin the year, they will need that playmaking more than ever.
With all this being said, Ware looking like the odd man out with Miami’s first unit this season is still a difficult decision.
Ware brings a much needed 7-foot frame that allowed Adebayo to slide over to a more natural power forward position a year ago. So far in preseason, Adebayo has shown the same offensive struggles that he had in his slow start last season, too. It’s not a coincidence that the Heat captain didn’t start getting into a groove once Ware emerged into the lineup.
Outside of Ware’s presence benefiting Adebayo, he also brings his own upside to the table. The second-year big man dominated in Miami’s preseason loss to the San Antonio Spurs, finishing with 29 points and 12 rebounds on 63% shooting. He also showed a glimpse of versatility by knocking down 3 of his 6 attempts from 3-point range in the game.
Coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged postgame that he was happy to see him “play with force.”
But for most of training camp and preseason — and even in the summer league — he has been vocal about wanting to see more energy and a winning impact out of Ware.
He did look disengaged during the Heat’s first round playoff sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers last spring. The Cavs bigs undoubtedly had their way against the raw Ware in the paint. But at the same time, it was the 21-year-old’s first ever postseason minutes in his rookie season.
To Spoelstra’s credit, Ware still has a lot to learn. But he also provides more of a ceiling than Jovic does.
Ware has all the physical tools to become a star in the league. That notion can’t be said about Jovic just yet, despite being in the league for three more years. When Ware is locked in and engaged, like the Miami Heat saw against the San Antonio Spurs recently, he has the talent to be a legitimate game changer on a nightly basis.
The size, rim protection and paint presence all provide Miami with attributes that they haven’t had from a true big man in a long time. Offensively, he has shown an ability to spread the floor, finish around the rim and be a lob threat.
As mentioned, Spoelstra’s thinking with inserting Jovic’s playmaking in Herro’s absence makes sense.
But once Herro is back in the fold, it doesn’t make sense to leave all that talent on the bench in Ware.