Miami Heat big man Kel’el Ware was on the receiving end of some harsh criticism from his head coach, Erik Spoelstra, recently. Having been called out for his professionalism and work ethic, the Heat sophomore responded by delivering a dominant performance during his recent Summer League outing against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In Sunday night’s action against the Cavs, Ware recorded a noteworthy stat line of 21 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. To make this performance even more impressive, the young big man did so on shooting splits of 57.1% from the field and 66.7% from beyond the arc.
Ware has been considered one of Miami’s most valuable assets heading into the future. Considering the kind of commitment the team has shown by investing in the 21-year-old’s development, it is understandable why Spoelstra expressed his frustration with Ware’s lack of consistency.
The big man wasted no time in turning things around after hearing his head coach’s comments. When considering that Ware also wishes to repay the Heat for their commitment to him, he certainly showed what he was capable of.
Within the first half itself, Ware notched 17 points and six rebounds to go with two blocks. His athleticism and aggression under the basket were a clear indication of his motivation to set things straight again.
Kel'el Ware looks primed for Year 2 🔥
17 PTS (7-10 FG), 6 REB and 2 BLK for the @MiamiHEAT big man in the first half! pic.twitter.com/TW55okQ8HB
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 14, 2025
During an interview after the first quarter’s action, Ware took accountability for his recent shortcomings, displaying a level of maturity that the Heat organization will certainly appreciate. When speaking about his effort, he said:
“It’s something I haven’t been doing over the last couple of games, but I just want to come and show up for the rest of us when we’re trying to win.”
He also spoke about his defensive effort up until that point and said, “That’s big. That’s something I’ve got to show and I’ve got to keep showing so I’m going to try to continue to do that.”
It was also impressive to see the youngster respond with a simple, “You will,” when asked about why he hadn’t displayed this kind of aggression earlier. These promises will hold a lot of value, especially as Miami will look to him to take on a bigger role in the upcoming campaign.
Ware’s contribution saw him lead the scoring charge for the Heat. Unfortunately, the performance was overshadowed by an emphatic 92-72 win for the Cavs.
Apart from Ware, the only relevant contributor for the team was sophomore guard Pelle Larsson, who recorded 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists. The No. 20 overall pick, Kasparas Jakucionis, struggled to get going. After a solid performance in the previous game, the rookie forward only managed to put up six points, two rebounds, and two assists for the game.
Miami’s Summer League campaign certainly doesn’t boast a lot of promise as the team falls to 0-2 after their latest loss. While this has a negligible impact on their regular season activities, the Heat will hope to see better performances from their young players.
