Erik Spoelstra applauds Kel’ Ware since ‘infamous’ criticism

With The Miami Heat enter the All-Star break with some form of momentum after a 123-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night, the player who has impressed of late is the second-year center Kel’el Ware. As it is The Heat featured the duo of Ware and Bam Adebayo more together on the field, that led to the head coach Erik Spoelstra praising Ware for his recent play in what has been a tumultuous season to say the least.

In the win over the Pelicans, Ware got another start where he scored 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, along with 12 rebounds, two blocks and a +18 from the floor. What has been deeply analyzed is the minutes that Ware is getting from Spoelstra, especially since the comments that came from the head coach were made after the Jan. 15 loss to the Boston Celtics.

After Ware logged nine minutes in that game, Spoelstra seemed to imply that some of the young players “Sometimes subconsciously I play badly.” to say, ‘Hey, I’m going to play poorly until you play me the minutes I think I deserve. Then I will play well.” Spoelstra referred to it as “infamous post game quote” when praising Var after his big outing on Wednesday.

“I also appreciate Kel’el’s process the last 3 weeks or month, because whenever that game was — the infamous postgame quote,” Ware said, via HeatCulture video on X, formerly Twitter. “But his process has really improved, and you’re going to go through periods where it’s up and down, but he’s been coming every day since – just trying to work on getting better.”

Erik Spoelstra with THANKS for Kel’el Ware tonight:

“I also appreciate Kel’el’s process the last 3 weeks or month, because whenever that game was — the infamous postgame quote. But his process has really improved and you’re going to go through stretches where it’s up and down, but . . . https://t.co/Gb866ftMMV pic.twitter.com/um07hTr798

— ღამარი (@VadekFlash) February 12, 2026

Heat’s Kel’el Ware on Erik Spoelstra’s comments

While it is The Heat coach in Spoelstra admitted that he was not articulate that infamous quote in a good way, could have fueled Ware to play better. Ware would say on SiriusXM radio that while he and Spoelstra never spoke directly about the quote, “it was more of a miscommunication.”

“But yeah, I’ve never gone out on the field and tried to play bad,” Ware said. “That would just make me look bad. I’d say I’ve been trying more to get used to playing in a different role….Just try to go out there and impact the game the best way I can defensively and try to leave the game with a plus.”

Either way, Ware will represent Miami at the Rising Stars event during the All-Star break.