ESPN Analyst Praises Miami Heat’s Kel’el Ware For Breakout Rookie Season

Jan 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) reacts after scoring against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jan 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) reacts after scoring against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

One of the most significant bright spots of the season for the Miami Heat has been Kel’el Ware, playing as nearly a lock for the Rookie of the Year award.

Ware spent most of his time on the bench or in and out of the G-League, as several Heat rookies have done to start their debut seasons. This all changed on Dec. 21. Ware took complete control of the backup center duties, leading to his dominance getting starter-level minutes on Jan. 19. 

In the past five games, Ware has averaged 18.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks on 54.9 percent shooting and 46.4 percent from three-point range. 

Tim Legler and Adam Mares spoke on their All NBA podcast about Ware’s dominant stretch since becoming an essential part of the rotation. They believe he has a good chance of winning the award regardless of whether he just started getting a chance this late in the season because of how well he’s been playing. 

“It’s not like Miami is completely irrelevant, but they’re not a contending team,” Legler said. “But if you average 15 or 16 over half a season and you’re on a team like Miami, that’s sort of a middle of the pack, .500 type of team; eventually those numbers are going to outweigh the other things. He’s opening eyes right now with his consistency and high-level production.”

Mares praised the Heat and Erik Spoelstra for finding another underrated player who emerges and plays very well in a larger role once given the opportunity.

“This is right out of the Spoelstra playbook, I feel,” Mares said. “Always finds guys that are just under the radar for half a season. All of a sudden, they break out, and they’re in a playoff rotation. We’ve seen this with Duncan Robinson and a handful of other guys that just become good. This, to me, is right on track.”


ERIK SPOELSTRA FEELS MIAMI HEAT “PROVED GRIT” IN WIN WITHOUT JIMMY BUTLER

With all of the distractions and chaos off the court because of Jimmy Butler’s constant suspensions, this was an excellent win for the Miami Heat.

Coach Erik Spoelstra talked post-game and immediately acknowledged how vital this comeback victory was and how this win could be one of the building blocks for the future.

“What it means right now is just that we proved to ourselves we have a tremendous amount of grit, and you gain confidence from that,” Spoelstra said. “Last time we played Orlando, it was the same type of thing. We had to totally gut it out, and there were so many inspiring defensive plays down the stretch.”

Spoelstra made a point to address, first and foremost, how impactful Bam Adebayo’s defense is to the team. Before tonight, his offense hadn’t been up to his usual standards and hadn’t finished with a game scoring at least 20 points since Jan. 2. However, tonight was one of his best games of the season on both ends of the floor.

“Bam is just a true definition of a two-way player,” Spoelstra continued. “ I understand what people are saying about his offense. It was great for him to have that moment where he had big offensive plays down the stretch, but we can’t forget how impactful he can be defensively in whatever coverage against 1-5.”

Spoelstra also discussed his new rotation of Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, and Kel’el Ware, who are all in the same big unit for the first time all year. Through 20 minutes, they were a plus 17 and closed out the fourth quarter and both overtime periods.

“Niko did a good job defensively in the fourth quarter and overtimes,” Spoelstra explained. “And Kel’el and Bam have already been building this chemistry defensively. That’s what we want. We want to make it really hard for teams to score easy buckets in the paint and at the rim. Our offense, we think, will get better as we spend more time together.”

ESPN ANALYST SAYS JIMMY BUTLER’S SUSPENSION WILL COST HIM MILLIONS

As Jimmy Butler was set to return tonight from his second suspension against the Orlando Magic, the Miami Heat suspended him a third time.

The Heat released a statement explaining Butler was suspended for five games for continuing to engage in conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services. The team informed Butler he would not start tonight upon his return, and Haywood Highsmith would start in his place.

ESPN salary cap expert Bobby Marks summarized the actions the Heat will continue to do each time Butler gives them a reason warranting suspension. 

“We continue to learn that Miami will do this suspension dance all season with Jimmy Butler,” Marks said. “If Butler continues to give the Heat a reason like walking out of shoot around, he will get suspended. And just like Ben Simmons with Philadelphia, Butler will likely get a good chunk of the money back after it goes to arbitration or gets settled.”

Marks pointed out the key wording in the Heat’s statement would indicate how much money Butler would lose in this five-game suspension. Anything related to failure to render services will cost him $532,737 per game. Because this suspension is indefinite, Butler is projected to lose at least $2,663,685 through the five games he will miss.

This suspension follows his seven-game suspension on Jan. 2, and his two-game suspension ended after the Heat’s last game against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. Butler’s total losses from suspensions will be at least $5.2 million.

Bryan Townes is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at btownesjr@gmail.com or on X @bryantownesjr11. Follow our coverage on Facebook.  


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Bryan Townes
BRYAN TOWNES

Bryan attended Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia with a focus on sports management. While he didn't grow up an NBA fan, he became one after playing the popular NBA2K video game. From Jimmy Butler to Ray Allen to Chris Bosh, Bryan has followed the Heat for the past several years.