Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has spent most of the season challenging Heat second-year center Kel’el Ware to be better. But that tough love turned into praise for Ware following Thursday’s home win against the Brooklyn Nets.
After all, Ware made history by totaling 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 shooting on threes, 11 rebounds, five steals and seven blocks in 32 minutes in Thursday night’s 126-110 victory over the Nets at Kaseya Center for his third straight double-double performance. Ware’s five steals matched the career-high mark that he set in Tuesday’s win against the Nets and his seven blocks set a career high.
Ware, 21, also became the first player in Heat history to record at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and five blocks in a game. He’s the 22nd player and the first bench player in NBA history to reach those marks in a game.
“Hey, he was jumping off the ground,” Spoelstra said of Ware following the Heat’s third straight win. “The head coach didn’t even have to tell him. I think his teammates are encouraging him to be more aggressive, guard the basket. He’s getting more alert on situations. His first few rim protections were in our man [to-man defense], which are the toughest ones to get in the pick-and-roll. But he was super active tonight.”
Ware’s seven blocks on Thursday tie Boston Celtics guard Derrick White for the second-most blocks in a game this season. San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama recorded the most blocks in a game this season with nine blocked shots in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 24, 2025.
“That could have been nine blocks,” Spoelstra said, continuing to push Ware for more even after his historic stat line. “Who’s gotten the most blocks this season? Wemby? Nine? Dang it. Should have been Kel’el tying that tonight. But I’m encouraged by his last handful of games. He’s doing a lot of things that are impacting the game.”
Ware has settled into the backup center role after starting in 29 of the Heat’s first 56 games this season, entering Friday’s matchup against the Hornets in Charlotte (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun) with seven consecutive appearances off the bench. This seven-game stretch has arguably been one of the best stretches of Ware’s career, too, averaging 12 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per appearance while shooting 54.5% from the field and 8 of 20 (40%) from three-point range, and thriving in the middle of the Heat’s zone defense during that span.
Ware has been a positive in his minutes, too, which was not the case this season before this seven-game stretch. The Heat has outscored opponents by 8.5 points per 100 possessions with Ware on the court during the past seven games after being outscored by 1.6 points per 100 possessions with Ware on the court during the Heat’s first 56 games this season.
“I mean, people forget Kel’el is 21 years old, like second year in the league,” Heat guard Tyler Herro said. “There are going to be ups and downs. He’s still learning. The best thing about Kel’el is he wants to learn, he wants to be great. And there’s going to be ups and downs. You see tonight his potential that he could tap into, seven blocks. It should have been eight. And he’s continuing to get better.”
Ware’s big night was needed Thursday, too, with Heat starting center Bam Adebayo running into foul trouble. Adebayo spent most of the second half on the bench after picking up his fifth foul with 6:56 left in the third quarter.
That led to Ware playing more than 30 minutes in a game on Thursday for just the eighth time this season, and his production helped the Heat survive Adebayo’s foul trouble. The score was tied at 72 when Adebayo went to the bench with 6:56 left in the third quarter, and the Heat went on to close the period on a 23-11 run to take a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Heat extended its lead up to 24 points in the fourth quarter, and found itself ahead by 15 points when Adebayo finally re-entered the game with 4:43 to play.
“I feel like it was just knowing you’ve got to step up and provide the role of a defending center out there,” said Ware, who was selected by the Heat with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 Draft.
But Ware has also succeeded alongside Adebayo recently, as the Heat has outscored opponents by an eye-opening 58.2 points per 100 possessions in the 84 minutes that Adebayo and Ware have played together since Feb. 8. This is noteworthy, considering the Heat had been outscored by 7.5 points per 100 possessions in the 266 minutes that the 6-foot-9 Adebayo and 7-foot Ware played together this season prior to Feb. 8.
It’s all just part of Ware’s encouraging stretch, which culminated on Thursday with a stat line unlike any other in Heat history.
“Mark this up in Heat history and NBA history,” Adebayo said of Ware’s historic performance on Thursday. “So kudos to him, I’m proud of him. And he did it while getting a double-double, so that makes it even better. But, like I’ve always said, I see what he can do. And he was able to showcase a lot of, obviously the defensive side, but 7 for 9 for the field. He played well today.”
Thursday’s dominant display was a step in the right direction for Ware amid his up-and-down second NBA season.
“It shows that I’m impacting the game,” Ware said. “And I’m going out there and I’m affecting it. Being able to help my team, prove that I can play and be a plus.”
INJURY REPORT
The Heat listed starting forward Andrew Wiggins (knee tendinitis) as doubtful for Friday’s game against the Hornets on the second night of a back-to-back.
Wiggins, 31, totaled eight points, four rebounds and one assist in 23 minutes in Thursday’s win over the Nets. He did not play in the fourth quarter.
The Heat also ruled out Simone Fontecchio (left groin strain), Keshad Johnson (G League), Nikola Jovic (low back injury management), Norman Powell (right groin strain), Terry Rozier (not with team) and Jahmir Young (G League).
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 10:53 AM.
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Anthony Chiang covers the Miami Heat for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and was born and raised in Miami.