MIAMI, FL – The NBA announced today that Miami HEAT center Kel’el Ware was named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in January.
It marks the 12th time a HEAT rookie has won the honor and the sixth player to do so, joining Caron Butler (four times), Kendrick Nunn (three times), Josh Richardson, Michael Beasley and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (twice).
Ware, who was selected by the HEAT in the first round (15th overall) in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 13.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.38 blocks and 24.7 minutes while shooting 56.5 percent from the field, 44.7 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the foul line in January.
Tyler Herro of the Miami HEAT has been selected for his first NBA All-Star team
For the month, he led all 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. In his five starts, he averaged 14.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.40 blocks and posted three double-doubles. Additionally, he led the HEAT in scoring four times, rebounds five times, blocks on 12 occasions, steals four times, minutes three times and plus/minus once.
Ware became the first rookie in team history to post at least 20 points and 15 rebounds without recording a single turnover on January 21 vs. Portland. In the same game, he also blocked two shots, becoming just the second NBA rookie over the last 40 years to post at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks in his first career start since David Robinson on November 4, 1989.
Ware also became just the fourth rookie in franchise history to post double-doubles in each of his first two career starts, first on January 21 and again on January 23. Among rookie league leaders this season, he ranks second in field goal percentage, second in three-point field goal percentage, fifth in rebounds per game, fifth in blocks per game and 10th in scoring average.
Photo/MiamiHeat/X
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