Erik Spoelstra gets real about Kel’el Ware’s ‘huge’ improvement
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra shared some critical remarks o Kel’el Warethe growth of his skills this season.
Ware made significant strides as a sophomore in the NBA with the Heat. He increased his tendency to score and rebound while being more active as a shot blocker.
Miami suffered a brutal 122-94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. In that game, Ware had seven points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a block in 28 minutes of action. However, he shot 3-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Spoelstra reflected in the loss after the game, according to Anthony Chang of the Miami Herald. When asked by the media what the key is for Ware to be more consistent from game to game, the head coach had a clear answer.
“Let me know,” Spoelstra said. “We’re working on it, and he’s had more good times than not.”
“These experiences are good for him. His growth has been tremendous, but it hasn’t been linear. There’s been a lot (of ups and downs), and he’s significantly better than where he was last year at this time.”
What’s next for Kel’el Ware, Heat
Erik Spoelstra has had a great season so the Heat are in the playoffs. However, for them to make a solid jump in the standings, they will need Kel’el Ware to take the next step in becoming a more consistent player on both sides of the ball.
Ware is making a lot of progress as he goes through the ups and downs of the 2025-26 campaign. During 37 appearances, he averaged 12.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He is shooting 54.8% from the field, including 43% from beyond the arc and 81.5% from the free throw line.
Miami has a 20-17 record on the season, holding the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are three games ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls, while trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic by 0.5 games.
After taking on the Bulls on Jan. 8, the Heat will stay on the road for their next contest. They play the Indiana Pacers on January 10th at 7pm ET.
2026-01-09 02:22:00
