Miami Heat star Kel’el is the sportsbook favourite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
The center played his first 26 games off the bench, but now that he’s become the team’s starting center, he’s risen in the ROY consideration.
Ware was the 15th pick in this year’s draft. He got off to a miserable start. He did not play in 15 of the Heat’s first 25 games and averaged just 6.9 minutes a game.
That changed, however, when the Heat traded center Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers.
Since the move, the center has averaged 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in 20.5 minutes.
In the three games played, Ware played at least 33 minutes, earning a starting role for January 21st.
In both of the games in which he started, he showed 21 points, 12.5 rebounds and two blocks.
Though with less exciting statistics in the overall season (8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and one block), the player’s continuous improvement deserves bookmakers’ thrill. But even his fellow players are praising him in full voice.
“He’s 7-foot-1. You can’t teach height, right? But he’s also athletic, coordinated, can jump, rebound, block shots. Plus, he’s focused,” Bam Adebayo said.
“You can win some Defensive Player of the Year awards with that mix of qualities,” Adebayo added.
With the rookie in the starting lineup, the Heat have been testing out the paint, while center Bam Adebayo plays power forward.
In fact, this has been a long-standing desire of coach Erik Spoelstra. For a few years, he has been looking for someone to play alongside Adebayo in Miami.
Spoelstra hinted that he could use Ware back in the NBA Summer League, when the youngster was one of the team’s standouts.
Adebayo is allowing 66.3% of his shots near the rim in 2024/25, a number far removed from his best years in the league.
