With the Miami Heat beating the Chicago Bulls, 143-107, with the blowout taking place in the NBA Cup group stage, there were many contributions on Friday night. While dedicated Heat player Keshad Johnson made an impact in extended minutes, another huge performance came from Kel’el Ware.
As Andrew Wiggins missed the contest due to a hip injury, Ware was inserted back into the starting lineup, despite being relegated to the bench in Wednesday night’s win over the Golden State Warriors with Bam Adebayo’s return. What resulted was another impressive outing, leading Miami with 20 points and 14 rebounds, leading to head coach Erik Spoelstra detailing the “big time” improvements that the 21-year-old has made.
“He’s being much more intentional,” Spoelstra said, via a video from Heat Central on X, formerly Twitter. “You know, it doesn’t have to be perfect basketball. Nobody plays perfect basketball, but the intentions have to be there, the attention to detail. He’s rebounding, he’s making his presence felt, you know, with his size, he still had some where either he got stripped or bobbled or that kind of thing. But he’s getting better.”
“He’s stacking up good day after good day,” Spoelstra continued. “And that the important thing about these games, he’s feeling the importance of the games, he’s playing meaningful minutes. He understands the responsibility to play well, and he’s recognizing if it doesn’t go well, you know what, he needs to correct. That’s a big-time improvement from last year, where he wasn’t really recognizing what was happening.”
Coach Spo on Kel’el Ware
“Hes being much more intentional. Hes rebounding, making his presence felt with his size. Hes getting better. Hes stacking up good day after good day”
Kel’el has been locked in lately 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uQ6bTkp2hZ
https://twitter.com/HeatCulture13/status/1992077456002724252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1992077456002724252%7Ctwgr%5Ec58acf92f9aaa979b0fc6e6ad00ff9d49a252358%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fmiami-heat%2Fheats-erik-spoelstra-highlights-big-time-improvement-from-kelel-ware
Norman Powell on the “impact” that Kel’el Ware has for the Heat
The Heat’s young star in Ware has been deemed to have “generational” talent, as said by Norman Powell, after the team’s 115-113 win over the New York Knicks, and once again spoke about the 2024 first-round pick Friday night. Powell would emphasize how Ware is “going to be a big piece” of what Miami is trying to accomplish this season.
“He’s been amazing, that’s his talent, that’s what we can do, that’s his impact on the game,” Powell said, via video from HeatCulture on X. “He’s going to be a big piece of what we’re trying to do here, the sky’s the limit for what he can do.”
Norman Powell praises Kel’el Ware tonight:
“He’s been amazing, that’s his talent, that’s what we can do, that’s his impact on the game…he’s going to be a big piece of what we’re trying to do here, the sky’s the limit what he can do.”
Ware got great mentors around him. pic.twitter.com/fYktESjFZi
https://twitter.com/WadexFlash/status/1992106916961714395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1992106916961714395%7Ctwgr%5Ec58acf92f9aaa979b0fc6e6ad00ff9d49a252358%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fmiami-heat%2Fheats-erik-spoelstra-highlights-big-time-improvement-from-kelel-ware
At any rate, it remains to be seen how Ware’s role will grow with Miami as the team is now 10-6, with the next game coming on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
