greg4012 wrote:Kel'el Ware is averaging 12 mpg right now, but as was the expectation, his role and opportunity should grow as the season progresses so long as he proves ready for it. That seems to be happening, as he has played over 15 minutes in 6 of the last 7 games after having only crossed that threshold once in his first 15 games where he got minutes.
Here are Ware's per 36 numbers so far:
17.4 points
8.8 rebounds
1.4 assists
1.6 turnovers
1.4 steals
2.6 blocks
3.3 fouls
We all can see the high level play finishing, paint deterrence, and difference he provides on the court. But for a young big, what he's not doing is equally as or more important for earning more minutes. He's not turning the ball over or fouling at a high rate. IMO those are key metrics to monitor for him to continue earning more minutes bc young bigs (and young players in general) tend to get out of whack when they're pressing to do too much or not sure what they're doing and it results in a lot of bonehead plays that costs their team possessions. Ware continues to impress me by being somewhat ahead of schedule on his progression here.
For context, here are per 36 numbers for some comparable young center prospects as rookies
Lively per 36
13.4 points
10.5 rebounds
1.7 assists
1.4 turnovers
1.0 steals
2.1 blocks
4.0 fouls
Gobert per 36 (only 10 min per game as a rookie)
8.6 points
12.9 rebounds
0.6 assists
2.7 turnovers
0.7 steals
3.4 blocks
4.7 fouls
Holmgren per 36
20.2 points
9.7 rebounds
3 assists
2 turnovers
0.8 steals
2.8 blocks
2.9 fouls
Porzingis per 36
18.1 points
9.3 rebounds
1.7 assists
2.1 turnovers
0.9 steals
2.4 blocks
3.6 fouls
Myles Turner per 36
10.3 points
5.5 rebounds
0.7 assists
1.1 turnovers
0.4 steals
1.4 blocks
2.6 fouls
Jarrett Allen per 36
14.7 points
9.7 rebounds
1.2 assists
2.0 turnovers
0.7 steals
2.2 blocks
3.7 fouls
Nic Claxton per 36
12.7 points
8.5 rebounds
3.1 assists
1.7 turnovers
0.2 steals
1.5 blocks
2.7 fouls
Mark Williams per 36
16.8 points
13.2 rebounds
0.8 assists
1.7 turnovers
1.2 steals
2 blocks
4.1 foul
A long way to go for Ware this season, but so far so good.
