The Miami Heat have long been known for their defensive tenacity under Erik Spoelstra, and once again this season, they’re leaning into that identity. A big part of their defensive success? The depth they’ve built in the frontcourt, particularly with Bam Adebayo and rising big man Kel’el Ware.
Now, the Heat have typically staggered their minutes, keeping Adebayo and Ware on the floor at different times to anchor the defense across both units. But Ware has made it clear: he wants to share the floor with Bam - and he believes the team is better when they do.
“It makes everything better,” Ware said during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “It makes it more of a safe space not just for us but the guards.
If you get blown by, you have either me or Bam back there. We can protect the rim.
One can go for the block, one can go for the rebound.”
That’s not just talk - there’s logic to it. Ware and Adebayo together give Miami a rare combination of rim protection, rebounding, and switchability.
It’s a look that’s becoming more common across the league. Just last season, the Thunder rode a double-big lineup with Chet Holmgren and Isiah Hartenstein all the way to a championship.
This year, the Rockets are regularly rolling out lineups with four players over 6'11". The size trend is real, and the Heat have the personnel to lean into it.
Ware’s push to play alongside Adebayo also comes at a pivotal time in his season. After a strong start - particularly in November and December, when he looked like one of the league’s breakout young bigs - Ware saw his minutes dip.
Spoelstra didn’t sugarcoat it: the big man had strung together a series of underwhelming performances, and the coaching staff responded accordingly. His role shrank, culminating in just three minutes of action against the Bulls on January 31.
But opportunity often comes knocking when adversity hits, and that’s exactly what happened when Nikola Jovic went down with an injury. Ware was thrust back into the rotation, and he’s responded the way coaches love to see - with production. In his last three games, he’s notched a pair of double-doubles, looking more like the player who turned heads early in the season.
With the Heat still battling injuries post-All-Star break, Ware is in prime position to keep carving out a bigger role. If his recent comments were a subtle push for more playing time, well, he’s getting it - and he’s making the most of it.
Physically, Ware has the tools to be special. He’s a seven-footer with range, mobility, and shot-blocking instincts.
There’s a reason he drew early comparisons to a lighter version of Victor Wembanyama. But talent alone doesn’t earn you minutes in Miami’s system - consistency does.
Spoelstra has built a culture around accountability, and if Ware wants to stay on the floor next to Adebayo, he’ll need to keep stacking solid outings.
The blueprint is there: size, defense, and versatility. If Ware can keep up this level of play, the Heat might just have a new frontcourt pairing that could be a problem for the rest of the East.