Still no Rising Stars invitation, but Heat’s Kel’el Ware named East’s Rookie of the Month
Miami Heat rookie center Kel’el Ware was not selected for the Rising Stars event during All-Star Weekend. He wasn’t even among the injury replacements picked for this season’s annual showcase of top first- and second-year NBA players and NBA G League standouts.
But Ware was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month on Tuesday for games played in January. San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle was selected as the Western Conference Rookie of the Month.
Philadelphia’s Jared McCain (November) and Washington’s Alex Sarr (December) received the first two Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards this season before Ware earned the award for January.
Ware, who the Heat selected with the 15th overall in the 2024 Draft, is the sixth different Heat player in franchise history to earn the Rookie of the Month honor. That list also includes Caron Butler (2002-03 season), Michael Beasley (2008-09 season), Josh Richardson (2015-16 season), Kendrick Nunn (2019-20 season) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (2023-24 season).
Ware, 20, logged double-digit minutes in just two of the Heat’s first 25 games this season. But he has since lifted himself into this season’s NBA Rookie of the Year conversation after receiving consistent playing time, as he entered Tuesday’s matchup against the Bulls in Chicago having played double-digit minutes in 22 consecutive games and starts in six straight games.
During the month of January, Ware averaged 13 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 21 of 47 (44.7 percent) on threes in 16 games to earn the Rookie of the Month award. In January, Ware led all NBA rookies in points, rebounds, three-point field goal percentage (minimum 25 attempts) and tied for the most double-doubles while also finishing second in blocks, fourth in steals and tied for fifth in three-point field goals made
For the season, Ware entered Tuesday’s matchup against the Bulls averaging 8.4 points, five rebounds and one block per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from three-point range.
This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 2:54 PM.
