Former Indiana Center Kel’el Ware named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month
Miami Heat Center Kel’el Ware named NBA’s Rookie of the Month for the Western Conference in January
Kia and the NBA announced earlier this week that Miami Heat center and former Indiana Hoosier rookie Kel’el Ware was named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the month of January.
Ware was the No. 15 overall pick to the Miami Heat in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Indiana, were he averaged 15.9 points per game, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and a field goal percentage of 58.6%.
Ware’s January numbers, and his ranks among the rookie class (minimum 10 games played at 20 minutes per game), looked like: (stats via NBA.com)
- 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)
He also shot 56.5% from the field, 44.7% from 3-point range on 47 attempts and 75% from the free throw line. Ware is the only rookie in the history of the NBA history to have a game with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four 3-pointers on 7-of-8 shooting, according to NBA.com.
Ware is the current favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year with plus-165 odds on the FanDuel Sportsbook after Ware put up 17 points against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
On the other side of the league, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of The Month. Castle averaged 14.9 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds on 43.1% shooting from the field in 12 games.
