Miami, FL.– The NBA announced today that Miami HEAT center Kel’el Ware has been selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He is the 15th rookie in franchise history to receive this honor and the eighth to be named to the Second Team, joining previous recipients such as Tyler Herro (2019-20), Justise Winslow (2015-16), Mario Chalmers (2008-09), Udonis Haslem (2003-04), Willie Burton (1990-91), Glen Rice (1989-90), and Kevin Edwards (1988-89). This achievement also marks the second consecutive season that a HEAT player has been named to an All-Rookie team, following Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s First Team selection last season.
Ware, who was selected by the Miami HEAT in the first round (15th overall) of the 2024 NBA Draft and was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January, participated in 64 games this season, including 36 starts. He averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.11 blocks, and 22.2 minutes per game, with a shooting percentage of 55.4 percent from the field. Ware set a franchise record for single-season rookie defensive rebounds with 357, surpassing Rony Seikaly’s 1988-89 record, and also achieved a HEAT single-season rookie record of 23 double-figure rebound games. He accumulated 71 blocks, the second-highest total by a rookie in team history, and recorded 15 double-doubles, the third-highest by a rookie in franchise history.
Notably, Ware posted a 20-point, 15-rebound game on January 21 versus Portland, becoming the first rookie in HEAT history to record at least 20 points and 15 rebounds without a turnover. In that same game, he blocked two shots, becoming only the second NBA rookie in the past 40 years to have at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks in his first career start, joining David Robinson who achieved this on November 4, 1989. During his second career start on January 23 at Milwaukee, Ware posted a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double, making him just the fourth HEAT rookie to record multiple double-doubles in their initial starts. On March 2 against New York, he blocked six shots, tying his franchise record for most blocks by a rookie in a single game. Additionally, he concluded the season with 35 made three-point field goals, the second-most by any seven-footer in team history during a single season.
Among the rookie league leaders this season, Ware ranked first among all rookies in defensive rebounds and double-doubles. He also finished second in field goal percentage, fourth in total rebounds, fifth in offensive rebounds, sixth in blocks, eighth in scoring average, tied for eighth in field goals made, 11th in plus/minus, 12th in points, and 15th in steals.
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