Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat looks on in the second half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 21, 2025 in New York City. Evan Bernstein Getty Images
Second-year center Kel’el Ware hasn’t just impressed Miami Heat coaches with his recent play. Opposing coaches are also starting to take notice.
After Ware recorded a career-high 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range to go with 19 rebounds and one steal in Sunday’s loss to the Knicks in New York, Knicks coach Mike Brown opened his postgame press conference by praising Ware.
“I’ll tell you, Kel’el Ware, he was a beast tonight on the glass,” Brown said at the start of his postgame press conference on Sunday. “This is one of the very few times we got our behinds kicked on the glass, and a lot of it is attributed to him and the way he rebounded on both ends of the floor, and then he shot the mess out of the basketball. “We told our guys he’s been shooting it really well. We just didn’t get to his body. It’s a little tough because he’s seven feet. So, with a guy like that, you almost got to close all the way to his chest just to try to hopefully make him put it on the floor.”
Entering Tuesday night’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors at Kaseya Center, Ware has shot an eye-opening 11 of 14 (78.6 percent) from three-point range while grabbing a total of 33 rebounds (11 offensive rebounds) over the last two games.
“I give him a lot of credit,” Brown continued on Ware. “He’s worked on his ability to shoot the three, and he’s five for seven tonight from the floor and also on the glass.”
Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat attempts a shot against the Boston Celtics during the first half at TD Garden on December 19, 2025 in Boston. Brian Fluharty Getty Images
Amid a rough stretch that has included seven losses in the eight games leading into Tuesday’s matchup against the Raptors, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra also took time to compliment Ware following Sunday’s road loss to the Knicks.
“I like the things that he’s doing. I know everybody on the outside will just notice the stats, but he’s doing winning things,” Spoelstra said when asked about Ware’s recent production. “It’s not always just about the stats, but he’s come a long way. He’s improving. I want him to play with confidence. ... Kel’el is improving vastly.”
How much has the 21-year-old Ware improved? He’s been one of the NBA’s top three-point shooting big men and rebounders so far this season.
Ware, a 7-footer, entered Tuesday shooting 36 of 75 (48 percent) from three-point range this season. It’s a low volume of three-point shots, but still a significant development.
Among the 192 NBA players who entered Tuesday with at least 70 three-point attempts this season, Ware’s three-point shooting percentage ranks second-best behind only Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer. And among the 25 centers around the NBA who have put up at least 70 threes this season, Ware ranks first.
“I feel like it’s through the flow of the game, through the offense,” Ware said of his three-point shooting. “When I feel comfortable letting it go, it’s just timing and decisions. Making that decision when it’s the right time.”
Ware has also been among the NBA’s best rebounders this season. Among the 268 players around the league who have played in at least 20 games this season, Ware entered Tuesday with the NBA’s fourth-best rebounding percentage (the percentage of available defensive rebounds a player grabs when he’s on the court) at 19 percent behind only Philadelphia Andre Drummond, and Houston’s Clint Capela and Steven Adams.
“That’s the main priority,” said Ware, who enters Tuesday with a team-high 12 double-doubles this season. “To go out there and get the rebounds. And like I said, the points are going to come throughout the flow of the game.”
Ware’s play has been a bright spot during an otherwise dark time for the Heat. The hope is Ware’s production will soon start leading to wins consistently.
“I’m just trying to impact the game and win that way,” said Ware, who has moved between a starting role and bench role throughout the first two months of the season. “So I’m not putting up the numbers for my, I guess for my own looks. I’m trying to put them up so we can get some points on the board, especially with the rebounds so we can come out with the win.”
INJURY REPORT
The Heat remains without Tyler Herro (right big toe contusion), Nikola Jovic (right elbow contusion/laceration), Pelle Larsson (left ankle sprain) and Terry Rozier (not with team) on Tuesday against the Raptors.
The rest of the Heat’s roster is expected to be available for the contest.