Heat's Kel'el Ware Posts Strong Summer League Stats Amid Team's Vegas Loss

Kel'el Ware, the Miami Heat center, faced public criticism from head coach Erik Spoelstra regarding his professionalism, consistency, and approach during the NBA Summer League, despite his evident talent. Spoelstra emphasized the need for Ware to embrace the responsibilities of being a professional and improve his effort on a daily basis. Responding to this, Ware delivered a strong performance in a recent Summer League game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 21 points with nine rebounds and three blocks, showing increased aggression and engagement compared to his earlier games. However, Ware still exhibited some weaknesses, such as rebounding struggles—despite his height advantage—and lapses on defense, including transition defense and boxing out. The Heat have high expectations for Ware going into his sophomore season, having protected him from trade talks due to his promising finish last NBA season, where he averaged near double-doubles and was close to making the All-Rookie First Team. While Ware's talent is unquestioned, his consistency and professionalism remain focal points for his development as he transitions fully into a professional role.