Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra expressed his commitment to developing center Kel’el Ware following the team’s challenging loss to the Boston Celtics on March 14, 2024. Ware’s inconsistent performance led to his benching during the second half of that game, prompting Spoelstra to remark that the second-year player was “stacking days in the wrong direction.”
Before the Heat’s subsequent victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 16, Spoelstra took the opportunity to clarify his earlier comments. He acknowledged that he had not communicated effectively regarding Ware’s development. “I didn’t articulate that in a great way and that wasn’t fair to Kel’el,” he stated. “I wasn’t even frustrated. So, what I’ll say is I’m fully invested in and invigorated about the opportunity to develop Kel’el, and our staff feels the same way. We’re going to give him everything we have to make sure he becomes the player that he wants to become, that we need him to become.”
Ware responded to Spoelstra’s remarks, stating that he found them “crazy,” but emphasized that he is focused on aspects within his control. When asked what he needs to do to secure more playing time, Ware remarked, “That’s a question you got to ask [Spoelstra]. Like I said, I’ve learned it is what it is. Control the controllables. I don’t know what my minutes will be.”
The young center discussed the challenges of adapting to fluctuating playing time and roles. “I try to give consistent effort when I play,” Ware explained. “With the minutes I get, like I said, it’s sort of hard to go out there when you really don’t know what your role is. It changes from one thing to the next. So I’m just trying to go out there and try to do what I was doing eight weeks ago when I had those minutes with the little minutes I get now.”
As the Heat navigate their current season, the development of players like Ware remains a focal point for Spoelstra and his coaching staff. The team’s success may well depend on their ability to harness and nurture the potential of their young talent amidst the pressures of competitive play.
