Heat big Kel’el Ware made his first-ever Rising Stars Game, which will be held on Feb. 13 during All-Star weekend! (Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware will be a part of the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, Calif.! The second-year big man was named to the NBA Sophomores team for the Rising Stars Game on Feb. 13, the league announced.
Among his teammates will be Spurs’ reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, Houston’s Reed Sheppard, Memphis’ Cam Spencer and Jaylen Wells plus Portland’s Donovan Clingan.
Ware, 21, is averaging 11.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game on 54.0 percent shooting, including 41.5 percent from 3-point range and 81.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Despite his inconsistencies on both ends of the floor, Ware’s unquestionably been one of the best players from the 2024 draft class so far. He’s ninth in total points while being second in rebounding and win shares.
Ware has missed the team’s last four games with a hamstring injury. Heat will begin a four-game-in-five-day stretch Wednesday against the Orlando Magic. There’s still not a timetable for his return, but hopefully he will be able to get 100 percent healthy before the All-Star break in two weeks.
Nevertheless, it’s very cool to see Ware get his recognition. One could only wonder how close Heat wing Pelle Larsson to making it as well.
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This is a developing news story. Stay tuned for updates.
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