Erik Spoelstra downplays ‘challenging’ Kel’el Ware

Doc Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware had an impressive preseasonthere were tons of narratives and stories about the head coach Erik Spoelstra challenging the 21-year-old hard. Although it is The Heat star uses Spoelstra’s challengesthe head coach thinks it’s taken.

In the offseason, Spoelstra would say Ware needs to improve his “professionalism,” among other traits, a nugget that fans and the basketball world latched onto. Speaking after practice on Tuesday, Spoelstra downplayed the rumors, saying he didn’t “Challenge him so hard,” while also mentioning that he enjoyed watching Ware improve.

“I didn’t even challenge him that hard,” Spoelstra said, according to The Sun Sentinel. “I just mentioned very important facts about his game, I like the progress he is making. We will continue to train him and push him. We see the talent there. He can really add a lot to our team.”

“He wants us to coach him and that’s what we owe him, to reach his full potential,” Spoelstra continued.

Heat is Erik Spoelstra on Kel’el Ware, Bam Adebayo duo

Although Vare starts for the Heat remains a question this season, the Indiana product is looking to build on what was an impressive rookie season, as he was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team. He would end up starting most of the second half of the season last year, led by Bama Adebayo.

However, that wasn’t the plan this preseason, as when he’s healthy, Nikola Jovic was with Adebayo in the front court, although he replaced Vare when Jovic was injured. Spoelstra would also diminish the significance any loss in chemistry in the Ware-Adebayo duo.

“I think they’re good. Yeah, now they’ve had time since training camp and those minutes last year to compete with each other,” Spoelstra said Monday. “They’re comfortable with that. So there’s some good things we can build on. Of course, we just don’t want them, like, taking up the same space, you know, that doesn’t do us any good. But they’re aware of that and they’ve been working on it.”

Coach Spo talks about the Bam and Ware lineup, also not committed to the starting lineup

“I’m still deciding, we’ll work it out. Whatever the starting line-up is for game one, it might not be for game two.”

He also says that “depth” is one of this team’s best assets

(Via @MiamiHEAT)… pic.twitter.com/CzE0pSg1Tt

— Heat Culture (@HeatCulture13) October 20, 2025

Either way, Ware is questionable for Miami’s start Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic with a sprained left ankle.