Miami Heat 7-footer Kel’el Ware is having an incredibly strong start to his sophomore campaign. (Mandatory Credit: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Through 31 games, arguably no Miami Heat player has broken out more than 7-foot big man Kel’el Ware.
The former No. 15 overall pick is averaging 12.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He’s shooting 55.6 percent from the floor, including 47.6 percent from 3-point range and 81.4 percent from the free-throw line. That includes a pair of monstrous stretches from Ware, including a 19-13-1.2 block stat line on 78.6 percent true shooting over his last five games.
Given Ware’s motor concerns exiting college, and his struggles with inconsistency throughout his first 1.5 seasons, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra hasn’t always been easy on the Indiana alum, publicly. But Ware hasn’t taken any slight to it.
“That’s really the only coaches I’ve been around,” Ware said, according to the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. “So that’s really all I’m used to. So I don’t really take anything bad or look at it a certain way. I just stay myself and let it be.
“I just take it as they want to see me be better and be a better version of myself.”
Ware played under Oregon head coach Dana Altman, one of the best coaches in the country, and former Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, who spent 10 seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks from 2004-14.
Spoelstra recently praised Ware for his improvements, though he acknowledged that the 7-footer has responded “appropriately” to the team’s “impatience” about his growth.
“I think he had been stacking some good days. When you do that long enough, eventually, you start to get some results,” Spoelstra told reporters earlier this week. “He’s still young, so (his growth) is not always going to be linear. There’s going to be some non-linear jumps; I want there to be some surprises.
“He’s handling it appropriately and he’s being held accountable to winning things. It doesn’t have to be like a negative thing. We all want the same thing. We want a better result; we want growth faster. I want him to be like he’s 28, and that’s not realistic. And a little bit of impatience is good, as long as everybody handles it appropriately. But his play, obviously, is improving, and I want to feel that.”
Asked Erik Spoelstra about what’s changed for Kel’el Ware.
Plus, asked him about the relationship with assistant Malik Allen, who Spo says is one of the most underrated coaches.
“It’s tough love, you guys think I’m tough on Kel’el…”
Full response w/ great insight: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/tD22t5keqn
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 23, 2025
Ware’s experienced his ups-and-downs through his first two seasons. But that is all part of the developmental process. As time has gone on, he’s been more consistent with his rebounding, play finishing and shooting. Ware is currently third among all qualified players in 3-point percentage (47.6), and he’s 15th among all centers in made 3-pointers (39).
Contrary to popular belief, Spoelstra and his staff’s tough love approach has gotten results beyond anyone’s expectations. His talent and physical gifts were always there; it’s about putting it together consistently.
If you impact winning under Erik Spoelstra and create winning habits, you’re going to play. If you don’t, then you won’t. Many may be upset at Spoelstra’s leash — or lack thereof — for the 7-footer. But reinforcing bad habits for a player with motor concerns won’t be beneficial for a player’s growth.
There’s always a method to the madness. And Erik Spoelstra’s methods have worked to perfection.
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