Season stats: 2025-26. Updated 6 h ago.
Kel'el Ware Joins the Bucks After Breakout Rookie-Year Numbers in Miami
newsroom · 18 min agoKel'el Ware heads into 2026-27 with the Milwaukee Bucks after spending last season with the Miami Heat. The 7-footer posted solid rebounding and efficiency numbers as a rookie, and he is not on the injury report heading into training camp. Milwaukee will lean on his size and shooting touch at center.
New Team, Same Traits
Kel'el Ware enters the 2026-27 season with the Milwaukee Bucks after his rookie year with the Miami Heat. He's a 22-year-old center out of Indiana, listed at 7-0 and 230 pounds, and he'll wear No. 9 for Milwaukee. Ware brings two seasons of experience and a skill set built around rim protection and stretch shooting for a big man. His move from Miami to Milwaukee gives the Bucks another frontcourt option with size and range. The season hasn't tipped off yet, so his role in Milwaukee's rotation is still to be determined once games begin.
Rookie Season by the Numbers
Last season with Miami, Ware appeared in 77 games, averaging 22.1 minutes, 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.1 blocks. He shot 53.0 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from three-point range and 74.0 percent from the free-throw line, numbers that point to a rare blend of rim finishing and outside shooting for a center. His true shooting percentage sat at 61.6 percent on a 17.4 usage rate. His plus-minus for the year was -0.9. Those figures made him one of the more efficient young bigs in the league as a rookie.
Health Report
Ware is not on the injury report as things stand. There is no injury history listed for him. That's a clean bill of health heading into a new season with a new team, which matters for a young center still building his role. Milwaukee will want him available for camp and the preseason schedule to get reps with his new teammates before the games start to count.
What's Ahead
The 2026-27 season has not started yet, so there's no game log or box score data to point to for Ware in a Bucks uniform. What's known is his production from last season in Miami and his physical profile: a 7-foot, 230-pound center who can protect the rim and shoot from outside. Fans will be watching how his rebounding and shooting translate once he takes the floor for Milwaukee. The opener is coming, and that will be the first real look at Ware in his new colors.
Questions fans ask
What team does Kel'el Ware play for now?
He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, wearing No. 9, after spending last season with the Miami Heat.
What were Kel'el Ware's stats last season?
In 77 games with Miami last season, he averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.1 blocks in 22.1 minutes.
Is Kel'el Ware injured?
No. He is not on the injury report, and he has no listed injury history.
How efficient was Kel'el Ware shooting last season?
He shot 53.0 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from three, and 74.0 percent from the free-throw line, with a 61.6 true shooting percentage.
How big is Kel'el Ware?
He's listed at 7-0 and 230 pounds, playing center.
Where did Kel'el Ware go to college?
He played college basketball at Indiana.
Game log
last 0| Date | Opp | Result | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG | 3P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No games logged yet this season. | |||||||||