Miami Heat rookie Kel’el Ware got his longest run of the season, but it wasn’t in a Miami Heat jersey.
The 15th pick in the draft played his first game for the organization’s G League affiliate in Sioux Falls and helped the Skyforce in their 102-81 win over the Windy City Bulls on Thursday.
Kel'el Ware will remain in the G League for some time to get more reps.
Ware finished with 17 points on 7 for 14 shooting (1 of 4 on 3-pointers), 12 rebounds, one assist and two blocked shots in 27 minutes. His emphatic dunk at the end clinched an impressive G League debut.
Kel'el Ware poster SHEESH 🔥@SFSkyforce @MiamiHEAT pic.twitter.com/3KzmoO3zfZ
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) December 6, 2024
Coach Erik Spoelstra said the decision to send Ware to the G League was to get him more playing time.
“The next logical thing is to try and get him some time, get him some game minutes, and see how he can impact winning,” Spoelstra said.
According to The Athletic, the Heat plan to have Ware play in the G League for three-game stretches to maximize his playing time.
“In an ideal G League stint, Ware could see 25 to 30 minutes of action with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, according to a team front-office source who was granted anonymity because he’s not authorized to speak publicly on the plan. Rather than bouncing Ware between the Heat and their minor-league affiliate one game at a time (or remain unsure when and how he can get playing time), the hope is the 7-footer can expect extended minutes for three-game stretches in the G League. That’s incredibly important for Ware’s mental adjustment to the pros.”
Coaches have been helping Ware with his defensive positioning and pick-and-roll coverage. With more reps, the hope is that Ware could be ready to contribute at the NBA level at some point this season.
The Skyforce play their next game on Sunday, Dec. 8, against Grand Rapids, then Friday, Dec. 13, against Windy City.