Kel'el Ware's response to Udonis Haslem's challenge after rebounding woes

As it is The Miami Heat lost to the New York Knicks on Friday night, 140-132, comes as the first loss in the group stage of the NBA Cup, but there is one aspect that costs the team games. Despite that Heat vs. Knicks without Jalen Brunsonthe team would fall from constant concern about lack of rebound, as a former player Udonis Haslem had a challenge for a certain player.

While Miami is still without Bam Adebayo due to the toe injury, part of the responsibility fell on the burden Kel’el Ware to be a returning presence for the team. Although he had 10 rebounds, Ware would struggle to get a board against a player like Mitchell Robinson, who had eight offensive rebounds.

Miami was outrebounded 51-46 overall and 20-15 offensively, leading to Haslem texting Ware after the game about the challenge ahead, and the way the young star reacted should excite every fan.

“After the game, I immediately texted Kel’el and I said, ‘Take a full film of Mitchell Robinson in the game, watch the full film, every offensive rebound you get, how he positions himself early and gets you under the basket,'” Haslem said on Amazon Prime’s NBA coverage, via Heat Central on social media.

“You can’t rebound if the ball isn’t in front of you. You have to have the ball in front of you if you want to rebound,” Haslem continued. “And the first thing he said was, ‘You’re absolutely right. I’m going to take the film and it won’t happen again.’ I think he will be better in the next game.”

Udonis Haslem on Kel’el Ware’s response after UD told him to study Mitchell Robinson’s film
“The first thing he said was you’re absolutely right. I’ll get the film, it won’t happen again – Kel’el might have seen me play twice, he doesn’t have to listen to me, but just to have a young . . .” pic.twitter.com/CvzgIAZJGK
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) November 15, 2025

The warmth Davion Mitchell takes some of the blame for the return troubles

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) talks with Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. — Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Already with The Heat are coming off a bad loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last Wednesday, the team looked to return to their early success. While they lead the league in scoring (106.34 possessions per game) and average 125.3 points per game, second-highest in the NBA, the rebounding numbers are undoubtedly a concern.

Miami has the third-worst defensive rebounding percentage, which is the percentage of available defensive rebounds a team gets, in the NBA this season at 66.1 percent. With the team also outscored in offensive rebounding in seven straight games, the Heat also allowed a league-high 20.1 second-chance points.

Davion Mitchell, who had 11 points and 11 assists on Friday, mentioned that he believes they’re being hurt by “50-50 balls” on the glass, and it’s not all Ware, as even Mitchell said he needs to be better at getting “longer jumps.”

“I can’t always think Kel’el is going to get every rebound,” Miktel said. “I’ve got to get it. All of our guys have to get those long jumps, especially when they’re shooting a lot of threes and they get knocked out, we’ve got to be there just to get those jumps.”

Davion Mitchell says Heat’s rebounding woes must be a team effort:
“I blame myself, I have to get those rebounds…I can’t always let Kel’el think he gets every rebound. All of our guards have to get those rebounds…we just have to do a better job with it.”pic.twitter.com/KnsIRrDp6M
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) November 15, 2025