(Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The Miami Heat played their first of five NBA 2K26 Summer League games on Friday in Las Vegas, Nev., where all 30 teams are gathered.
There have been a few notable standouts for the Heat, including a pair of second-year players in Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson.
However, Heat second-year big man Kel’el Ware, who made second-team All-Rookie last season, has been anything but impactful this summer. He had just 10 points and six rebounds on 4-of-9 shooting in Friday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks after averaging just 13.0 points and five rebounds in last weekend’s California Classic.
And Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was very candid about Ware’s professionalism and consistency.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra says Kel’el Ware’s professionalism, consistency need to improve:
Spoelstra spoke to reporters on Saturday and was brutally honest regarding a few of the 7-footer’s intangibles:
“The professionalism and consistency has to improve — and it is,” he said. “Our standards aren’t going to change. He’s getting stronger, gaining weight, and learning how to be a pro. But he’s got to take ownership of it. And the other stuff will come along with that.”
It’s rare that Spoelstra calls out of a player to this degree; this feels eerily similar to how he occasionally addressed former Heat big Hassan Whiteside, ironically enough.
Ware, 21, hasn’t been good in Summer League after making second-team All-Rookie. A lot of his movements and intentions look lethargic; his rebounding, screen-setting, rim protection, rolls and body positioning have been quite poor, which is very concerning for a second-year player against weaker competition. Summer League, in the grand scheme of things, won’t be indicative of most players’ careers. ‘
There’s more nuance because Ware has added muscle — how has him putting on pounds affected his body movements and fluidity, and has that been a detriment? We don’t know, but what we do know is that he’s simply not playing well — nor does he look like he’s trying to play well — against inferior talent. We also know that Summer League head coach Eric Glass wanted Ware to become more consistent before arriving in Las Vegas … and now one of the most important figures in the organization voiced similar thoughts.
What are your thoughts on Spoelstra’s comments? Let us know in the comment section below!
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