Kel’el Ware named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month

The NBA announced today that Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware was named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in January.

And he’s becoming a contender for the league’s Rookie of the Year award.

Ware, who was selected by the Heat in the first round (15th overall) in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 13.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 24.7 minutes while shooting 56.5 percent from the field, 44.7 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the foul line in January.

The former IU basketball star had two games (January 21 and 23 against Portland and Milwaukee) with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two threes. He is the only rookie to put up those numbers in a game this season and is tied for the fourth-most such games among rookies all time.

Ware also had a game (January 27 vs. Orlando) with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four threes on 7-of-8 shooting. He’s the first rookie to have those numbers in a single game, ever.

Ware’s January numbers, and his ranks among the rookie class (minimum 10 games played at 20 minutes per game), looked like:

13.0 points (No. 2)
6.9 rebounds (No. 2)
1.4 blocks (No. 2)
56.5 FG% (No. 2)
44.7 3pt% (No. 1)
65.3 TS% (No. 1)

Ware started seeing playing time alongside Bam Adebayo, and quickly became a starter once that look debuted. He’s played in a total of 32 games on the season, with six starts.