Before the calendar flipped to 2025, Miami Heat rookie Kel’el Ware had not recorded a game with double-digit points in his young NBA career. Now in the final week of January, the North Little Rock alumnus is the betting favorite to become the Heat’s first Rookie of the Year winner after working his way up from being third-string.

Heat center Kel'el Ware has emerged as the front-runner to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award following a strong run of late.

When Kel’el Ware was drafted 15th by the Miami Heat last June, it wasn’t certain when the Indiana product would break into Miami’s rotation — after all, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra focuses more on the game ahead than he presumes anything about the big picture.