Miami Heat rookie Kel’el Ware was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team, punctuating an impressive first season with the team.
Ware finished with the sixth-most votes, one spot shy of being named to the first team. He was 10 first-place votes short of Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr, the second-overall pick in last June’s draft. Ware was selected by Miami with the 15th pick.
Ware nearly made first team All-Rookie.
This isn't a surprise. Ware started 36 games for the Heat and averaged 9.3 points on 55.4% shooting, 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. He emerged as a starter in the second half of the season, which allowed Bam Adebayo to slide to the power forward position. Together, Adebayo and Ware figure to be the Heat’s frontcourt of the future.
With the second-team nod, Ware becomes the 15th player in Heat history to be named to the NBA All-Rookie team. He joins Jaime Jaquez Jr., who was named the NBA’s All-Rookie first team in 2024.
The 2025 All-Rookie first team includes San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher, Memphis’ Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey, and Sarr.
Joining Ware on the second team are Chicago’s Matas Buzelis, New Orleans’ Yves Missi, Portland’s Donovan Clingan and Washington’s Bub Carrington.