Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) dunks against the Orlando Magic at Kaseya Center. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Kel'el Ware Named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month

Originally posted on Indiana Hoosiers on SI
By Jack Ankony | Last updated Feb 4, 2025 5:45 PM ET

Kel'el Ware is beginning to show why the Miami Heat used the 15th overall pick on him in the 2024 NBA Draft.

After a quiet start to the season, the versatile 7-foot center started to receive more playing time at the end of December, and he made the most of it. His minutes increased even more in January, so much so that he earned a spot in the starting lineup the last six games.

On Tuesday, Ware was named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January.

Across 16 games in January, he made five starts, averaged 24.8 minutes per game, 13 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 0.9 assists and 0.8 steals per game. He shot 56.5% from the field, 44.7% from 3-point range on 47 attempts and 75% from the free throw line.

The Eastern Conference @Kia Rookie of the Month for January is Kel'el Ware! #KiaROTM

13.0 PPG | 6.9 RPG | 1.4 BPG pic.twitter.com/waJ7l48Z0P
— NBA (@NBA) February 4, 2025

In January, Ware led all rookies in points, rebounds, 3-point field goal percentage, with at least 25 attempts, and tied for the most double-doubles. He was also second in blocks, fourth in steals and tied for fifth in three-point field goals made, according to NBA.com.

Ware had two games in January where he scored a career-high 25 points. In two additional games, he became the only rookie all season to have at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two 3-pointers. He's the only rookie in NBA history to have a game with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four 3-pointers on 7-of-8 shooting, according to NBA.com.

It’s only fitting that our ROTM was in the weight room when he got the news pic.twitter.com/54vQc1xpiW
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 4, 2025

Ware is the current favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year with plus-165 odds on the FanDuel Sportsbook. The Heat are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 24-23 record ahead of Tuesday's 8 p.m. ET tipoff on the road against the Chicago Bulls.

This article first appeared on Indiana Hoosiers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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