MIAMI — If nothing else, through the ups and downs, the closing stretch of the Miami Heat’s regular season offered a reminder that big men still can matter in today’s NBA and that a new generation has arrived — including the Heat’s Kel’el Ware.
The first round of last year’s NBA draft featured the selections of five centers, all of whom made an impact in their rookie seasons. Sunday, for the Heat’s season finale at Kaseya Center, the Washington Wizards arrived with Alex Sarr. Friday night, although inactive, Yves Missi was on the roster of the New Orleans Pelicans when they faced the Heat. A week ago, the Heat went against Zach Edey and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Factor in Ware and Portland Trail Blazers’ big man Donovan Clingan and that’s five first-round centers who all have flourished this season.
“I haven’t really given it thought in terms of like comparison,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of rating of the big men from the first round of the Class of 2024-25. “I just know Kel’el has gotten better every single moment. And he’s contributing to winning. He’s learning all the important lessons of accountability, of what leads to winning, the stress of it. I think all of it has been really good for him and has been really impactful.”
In a league that has taken offense to the 3-point line and has stressed a five-out approach that leaves the lane vacant as a point of attack, the latest infusion of centers have offered a reminder about the value of the longest of length, the biggest of bodies.
“It really can change the dynamic of your team, if you have a big that has skill, that really can be a presence at the rim,” Spoelstra said. “It’s a little bit different than the ’90s, in terms of throw the ball in the post and back down.
“But now the vertical spacing, the offensive rebounding, the cutting, and then being able to handle catches that turn into post-ups, randomly during the course of a possession, young bigs that can do that and defend in this modern league are extremely valuable. And Kel’el has shown that kind of skill and it’ll continue to get better.”
With his four rebounds in his 19 minutes of limited action in Sunday’s season finale against the Wizards, Ware tied Udonis Haslem for the fourth-highest rebound total (473) by a Heat rookie, behind only Rony Seikaly (549) amd Grant Long 546), and first on the rookie-season defensive rebound list. His 15 rebound-point double-doubles were second only to Seikaly’s rookie total of 18 in 1988-89.
Among rookies, Ware entered the final day of the season ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounding, second in field-goal percentage and sixth in blocked shots.
When it comes to the league’s All-Rookie teams, Ware will find the competition stark, with Pelicans coach Willie Green ahead of Friday night’s matchup noting how youthful big men such as the Heat’s Ware and his own Missi have the ability to change the game.
“I think there’s always a place for extremely talented centers in the NBA,” Green said. “They anchor your defense, really allow perimeter guys to be more aggressive. So I think there’s always a place for that position. It just depends on every coach has their own philosophies.”
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