![\"Kel'el](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-7-12-1.25PM-1024x574.jpg\")
(Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n(Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
There have been a few notable standouts for the Heat, including a pair of second-year players in Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson.<\/p>\n
However, Heat second-year big man Kel\u2019el 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\u2019s loss to the Atlanta Hawks after averaging just 13.0 points and five rebounds in last weekend\u2019s California Classic. <\/p>\n
And Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was very candid about Ware\u2019s professionalism and consistency.<\/p>\n
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra says Kel\u2019el Ware\u2019s professionalism, consistency need to improve:<\/p>\n
Spoelstra spoke to reporters on Saturday and was brutally honest regarding a few of the 7-footer\u2019s intangibles:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe professionalism and consistency has to improve \u2014 and it is,\u201d he said. \u201cOur standards aren\u2019t going to change. He\u2019s getting stronger, gaining weight, and learning how to be a pro. But he\u2019s got to take ownership of it. And the other stuff will come along with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s rare that Spoelstra calls out of a player to this degree; this feels eerily similar to how he occasionally addressed<\/a> former Heat big Hassan Whiteside, ironically enough.<\/p>\n Ware, 21, hasn\u2019t 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\u2019t be indicative of most players\u2019 careers. \u2018<\/p>\n<\/p>\n There\u2019s more nuance because Ware has added muscle \u2014 how has him putting on pounds affected his body movements and fluidity, and has that been a detriment? We don\u2019t know, but what we do know is that he\u2019s simply not playing well \u2014 nor does he look like he\u2019s trying to play well \u2014 against inferior talent. We also know that Summer League head coach Eric Glass wanted<\/a> Ware to become more consistent before arriving in Las Vegas \u2026 and now one of the most important figures in the organization voiced similar thoughts.<\/p>\n What are your thoughts on Spoelstra\u2019s comments? Let us know in the comment section below!<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n To check out our other content, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter\/X\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Subscribe to our YouTube channel\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t\t\t