<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-highlights-kelel-wares-development-amid-sparse-playing-time');   ga('set', 'title', 'Heat’s Erik Spoelstra highlights Kel’el Ware’s development amid sparse playing time');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Erik-Spoelstra-highlights-Kelel-Wares-development-amid-sparse-playing-time.jpg"></figure><h1>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra highlights Kel’el Ware’s development amid sparse playing time</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-21T16:50:51-08:00">November 21st, 4:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-21T16:55:23-08:00">November 21st, 4:55pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-shares-honest-admission-about-form-in-first-game-back-from-injury">Miami Heat are coming off a great win</a> over the Philadelphia 76ers, fans are still wondering about the role of first-round pick Kel’el Ware. As the narrative about the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-first-round-rookie-reveals-patient-approach-in-hope-of-more-minutes">Heat rookie getting sparse playing time has been ongoing</a>, he spoke with ClutchPoints after Thursday’s practice about being patient while head coach Erik Spoelstra also touched on his development.</p><h2><b>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on Kel’el Ware waiting patiently for playing time</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kelel-Ware-on-Oct.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There is no doubt that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-kelel-ware-delivers-encouraging-first-meaningful-performance-with-miami">minutes for Ware have been sporadic</a> as there was very little to start the season, then it ramped up due to the prolonged absence of Kevin Love, but it’s now virtually zero due to his return. However, it’s important to remember that the Indiana University product is a rookie, and the behind-the-scenes work has been impressive, as Spoelstra said to ClutchPoints.</p><p>The head coach would also emphasize how even though the playing time is not consistent for Ware, <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1859662782863683898" rel="noopener">it isn’t because there are any setbacks.</a></p><p>“He’s really committed to the whole process, and part of that process is just quiet all the noise,” Spoelstra said. “You know, everybody has all these expectations, and rightly so. And you know, if he’s not playing a certain amount of minutes, or if he doesn’t get into the game, that doesn’t mean things are going poorly, you know, quite the contrary, he’s doing a lot of really good things.”</p><p>“Really good practice today…Control what you can control, stack good days, keep on doing those good days,” Spoelstra continued. “It leaves an impression on the head coach and the rest of the coaching staff, your teammates, you know. And he’s, he’s getting better. Still has to learn the league, learn how things go. But he’s making a lot of steps forward, steps behind the scenes, and that’s what you want to see with young players.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Erik Spoelstra about Kel’el Ware behind the scenes and sung his praises.</p><p>“He’s really committed to the whole process…if he’s not playing a certain amount of minutes or doesn’t get into a game, it doesn’t mean it’s going poorly, quite the contrary…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/2hDkBFxufi">pic.twitter.com/2hDkBFxufi</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1859662782863683898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware answers if it’s frustrating that minutes are sparse</b></h2><p>Ware has impressed since being drafted with the 15th overall pick, as his seven-foot frame and elite athleticism were too good to pass up for Miami. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-kelel-ware-has-honest-takeaways-from-impressive-summer-league-performance">Heat big-man would also show out during the Summer League</a> and has shown spurs in the little playing time that has been given.</p><p>While it could be frustrating for fans that Ware isn’t getting that much playing time yet, he understands that he needs to develop, as said to ClutchPoints Thursday.</p><p>“I don’t think it’s frustrating. I would just say it’s more of the developing aspect of it and just trying to get better,” Ware said. “And, like I said, I am a rookie, so, you know, just trying to get developed to the league.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware on how the season has been going for him</b></h2><p>As people await a more consistent role with the team, he does have the right people around him in fellow big-man Bam Adebayo, veterans like Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love, and even Udonis Haslem, who is around the team in a front office role. Ware would tell ClutchPoints that besides his rookie season going well, it’s been productive to “pick the brain” of everybody he encounters.</p><p>“I mean, it’s been going good so far,” Ware said. “I’m surrounded by great people, so just learning and adapting to what’s here [in Miami]…I’m around a great group of guys, and, you know, just picking their brains whenever I can. And, you know, just learning more and more, developing and getting better.”</p><p>Another player who looks to get more minutes like <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-sends-message-to-rookie-draft-selections-amid-lack-of-minutes">Ware is fellow rookie Pelle Larsson,</a> who was selected with the second-round pick. There already has been a relationship building between the two as besides spending time in the Summer League, they are both vying for playing time as Ware details their journey.</p><p>“I mean, yeah, of course, you know, coming in with him as a rookie, played summer league with each other, so we already got a little bit of chemistry,” Ware said. “And, you know, just playing with each other and practice too, as well, and just getting better. Both of us are trying to develop and get more minutes, so that’s what we’re just doing.”</p><p>At any rate, it will remain to be seen if Spoelstra gives more minutes to Ware sooner rather than later, but judging by both comments, it could be the foreseeable future. The Heat next play the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday evening.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra highlights Kel’el Ware’s development amid sparse playing time

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-kelel-ware-delivers-encouraging-first-meaningful-performance-with-miami');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kel’el Ware delivers ‘encouraging’ first meaningful performance with Heat');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Heat-news-Kelel-Ware-delivers-encouraging-first-performance-with-Miami.jpg"></figure><h1>Kel’el Ware delivers ‘encouraging’ first meaningful performance with Heat</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-08T14:14:41-08:00">November 8th, 2:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-08T14:14:41-08:00">November 8th, 2:14pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-vs-nuggets-prediction-odds-pick-11-8-2024">Miami Heat face the Denver Nuggets Friday night</a>, fans are still reeling from the loss to the Phoenix Suns that included extended playing time for first-round selection Kel’el Ware. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-first-round-rookie-reveals-patient-approach-in-hope-of-more-minutes">Heat’s rookie had a patient approach</a> in waiting for meaningful plying time as fans were clamoring to see the Indiana University product, and they finally got what they wanted last Wednesday.</p><p>Ware played 14 minutes against the Suns, where he scored seven points on three for six shooting from the field, including his only make from three-point range, while he collected three rebounds, recorded two steals, and a block. The 20-year-old would speak to the media before Friday night’s game and <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article295229639.html" rel="noopener">spoke about the anticipation to get some time,</a> according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.</p><p>“I’ve been putting in the work, trying to build up my body to build up my skills to be able to go out there and perform,” Ware said. “So it was great to have the opportunity.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Jimmy Butler assesses rookie Kel’el Ware</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kelel-Ware-defending-on-Nov.-6-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>His only other playing time before this had been in lopsided results like the six minutes in the opening loss to the Orlando Magic and last Saturday in Mexico, where Miami dominated the Washington Wizards. While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-has-biggest-regret-after-final-shot-debacle-vs-suns">Heat star Jimmy Butler had regrets after the loss to the Suns</a>, he complimented Ware for his outing and expects more in the future.</p><p>“I think he did great,” Butler said when he was asked about how Ware did. “Jumping up there, contesting shots, rebounding, he made a three, made a little hook. The more plays, the more reps that he gets, the more comfortable he’s going to get and he’s going to be able to pick his spots a lot better on the floor. That only comes with time and reps.”</p><p>Speaking of rookies, Heat second-round selection Pelle Larsson has been getting some extended minutes the past few games as Spoelstra already sees him as a do-it-all role player for the team. As for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-kelel-ware-has-honest-takeaways-from-impressive-summer-league-performance">Summer League standout in Ware</a>, fans have higher expectations for him as being the seven-foot center that pairs with Bam Adebayo.</p><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware on what he saw from his first meaningful playing time</b></h2><p>However, every time a rookie plays his first true minutes, there will be mistakes as he had some, but Ware understands that he will learn from those and improve.</p><p>“I would say it’s more of the first time being out there like that, just first-time minutes,” Ware said after his debut in the Heat’s rotation. “Once you get them out of the way, I feel like for everybody, it’s going to be better.”</p><p>“Just being able to watch, being able to watch everything and see how everything is coming, and how I can affect things,” Ware continued.</p><p>Ware’s minutes Wednesday came because he earned it, as said by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-sends-message-to-rookie-draft-selections-amid-lack-of-minutes">Spoelstra, who even said that the Heat have been impressed</a> with his work “behind the scenes.”</p><p>“He’s been really progressing quickly behind the scenes,” Spoelstra said following Wednesday’s loss to the Suns. “He kept himself ready. I thought his minutes were very good. I thought they were encouraging.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Kel’el Ware on how it has been a “dream come true”</b></h2><p>It remains to be seen how much more playing time Ware will get, as while he served as the primary backup to Adebayo, that role is usually filled by Thomas Bryant who has been in place for Kevin Love as he’s missed time due to “personal reasons.” Love seems to be on his way back as his distinction on the injury report is now<a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-11-08_04PM.pdf" rel="noopener"> “Return to Competition Reconditioning,”</a> but Ware is still grateful for the time given.</p><p>“It’s satisfying,” Ware said. “I guess you could say it’s more a dream come true because you put in the work to be able to perform at your best. That’s always good to me.”</p><p>At any rate, the Heat are 3-4 before their second contest in the six-game road trip as they face their 2023 NBA Finals opponents in the Nuggets Friday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
3.4	2.5	0.1	0.7	0.4

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
3.4	2.5	0.1	0.7	0.4

Kel'el
Ware

Latest Kel'el Ware News

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra highlights Kel’el Ware’s development amid sparse playing time

Kel’el Ware delivers ‘encouraging’ first meaningful performance with Heat