Heat’s Kel’El Ware Continues Adventurous Rookie Season by Joining Rare Club

Miami Heat fans wanted to see what rookie center Kel’El Ware could do when given a chance.

Good news: Ware remains the odds-on Rookie of the Year favorite only two months after barely seeing the court.

Better news: Ware is staying incredibly productive even on nights his offense isn’t entirely there.

Although Ware went scoreless in 18 minutes Wednesday night, he grabbed 13 rebounds in the 108-101 victory over Philadelphia. The Associated Press pointed out Ware posted only the zero-point, 13-or-more rebound in Heat history.

Longtime Heat center Joel Anthony had a zero-point, 16-rebound game in a 93-89 overtime loss to Atlanta on Jan. 18, 2011.

Former Heat forward Justise Winslow performed similarly on Feb. 28, 2016, grabbing 13 boards in a 98-81 victory over the Knicks.

Don’t let his scoreless performance fool you. Miami outscored Philadelphia by six points with Ware on the court.

Ware averages 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 34 games (eight starts). He entered Thursday with +135 odds (bet $100 to win $135) of winning Rookie of the Year.

Not bad for a player who barely saw the court for a month and briefly spent time in the G League.

No Heat player has ever won Rookie of the Year.

WIGGINS TO JOIN LEBRON, SHAQ

New Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins is about to join a rare club featuring two of the greatest players in league history.

Wiggins will become the fourth No. 1 pick to play for the Heat. He’ll join Shaquille O’Neal (1992), LeBron James (2003), and Greg Oden (2007) in the exclusive group.

The Heat have never selected first in the draft.

The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Wiggins first in 2014. However, the team quickly traded him to Minnesota for All-Star forward Kevin Love.

Amusingly, Wiggins and Love are now teammates.

Wiggins’ entry into the small club could bode well for Miami. O’Neal and James each won championships during their Heat tenure.

Additionally, the Heat reached the Finals during Oden’s lone season in Miami. However, the San Antonio Spurs topped the Heat in 2014.

Wiggins averages 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. However, his 44.4 shooting percentage marks his lowest since 2019, his final full season in Minnesota.

HASLEM SHARES THOUGHTS ON BUTLER TRADE

Heat legend Udonis Haslem spent weeks watching his former team endure the never-ending Butler saga.

Count Haslem among those pleased with the trade.

“I have just been waiting to exhale,” Haslem declared on ESPN.

Haslem went one step further describing the last month. Butler requested a trade Jan. 2 and has served three separate suspensions for violating team rules, missing a team flight, and walking out of practice.

“It has been mentally, emotionally, and physically draining in this period of time for everyone,” Haslem said.

“So I am quite happy that we finally got it figured out, and the guys in the locker room can quiet the noise and play with a clear mind.”

Haslem played with Butler from 2019 through 2023. Miami reached the finals twice in that span, losing to the Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets three years later.

However, Haslem has no lingering resentment towards Butler. He praised his ex-teammate and said the veteran forward is an excellent fit for a Warriors team seeking one more title in the Stephen Curry era.

“I know what Jimmy is firsthand,” Haslem said. “Playoff Jimmy. I know what he brings. He’s definitely gonna take some stress off Steph. … You can go to Jimmy, and he’s gonna be efficient for you.”

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Jake Elman works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat on SI. He can be reached at jakeelman97@gmail.com or follow him on X @JakeElman97.