The Miami Heat are in the middle of a rough patch-dropping eight of their last nine games-but amid the frustration, there’s a silver lining emerging in the form of second-year center Kel’el Ware. The 21-year-old big man has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise turbulent stretch, and his recent play is turning heads for all the right reasons.
What’s made Ware’s growth even more compelling is how he’s responded to the kind of tough, no-nonsense coaching that’s become a hallmark of his development. Whether it was Dana Altman at Oregon, Mike Woodson at Indiana, or now Erik Spoelstra in Miami, Ware has consistently been pushed-and he’s embraced every bit of it.
“That’s really the only coaches I’ve been around,” Ware said. “So that’s really all I’m used to.
So I don’t really take anything bad or look at it a certain way. I just stay myself and let it be.”
That mindset has served him well. In a league where young players often take time to adjust to the mental and emotional demands of the game, Ware seems to be ahead of the curve.
He doesn’t view hard coaching as criticism-it’s fuel. And more importantly, he sees it as a sign that his coaches believe in his potential.
Asked Erik Spoelstra about what’s changed for Kel’el Ware.
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 23, 2025
Plus, asked him about the relationship with assistant Malik Allen, who Spo says is one of the most underrated coaches.
“It’s tough love, you guys think I’m tough on Kel’el…”
Full response w/ great insight: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/tD22t5keqn
“I’ve been getting coached like that,” he added. “So it’s not much of a big thing to me, I would say. I just take it as they want to see me be better and be a better version of myself.”
Spoelstra, known for his demanding but player-focused style, hasn’t held back with Ware. But it’s not about breaking him down-it’s about building something greater. Spoelstra wants to fast-track Ware’s development, and he’s made that clear.
“I want there to be some surprises, not only with Kel’el but with other guys,” Spoelstra said. “He's handling it appropriately, and he's being held accountable to winning things.
It's not like a negative thing. We all want the same thing-we want a better result.
We want growth faster. I want him to be like he's 28, and that’s not realistic, and that a little bit of impatience is good, as long as everybody handles it appropriately.
But his play, obviously, is improving, and I want to fuel that.”
That’s high praise from a coach who doesn’t hand out compliments lightly. And it speaks volumes about how Ware is approaching his role-not just filling minutes, but making an impact. He’s showing flashes of what he could become: a mobile, rim-protecting, floor-running big who can anchor the defense and find his spots on offense.
The Heat, sitting at 15-15, are looking for answers right now. Injuries, inconsistency, and a brutal stretch of games have taken their toll.
But in Ware, there’s a reason to feel optimistic. He’s not just surviving in Spoelstra’s system-he’s starting to thrive in it.
Next up is a Friday matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, and while team success remains the priority, all eyes will be on how Ware continues to evolve. If his recent stretch is any indication, the Heat may have found something real in their young center-and that could be a game-changer as the season wears on.