2025-26 Season
KEL'EL WARE
2025-26 Season
KEL'EL WARE
Ware produces at an elite rate for a 22-minute workload.
About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works
TEAM COMPARISON
of 13 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 92 Centers with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Kel'el Ware's first twenty games of the season were defined by a massive breakout as a relentless interior anchor who finally learned to stop drifting around the perimeter. Early on, his shot selection was a glaring issue. On 10/28 vs CHA, he scored 14 points but posted a dismal -6.6 impact because he settled for eight three-point attempts, entirely abandoning his physical advantages in the paint. He quickly realized that his true value comes from hustle and rim deterrence, perfectly illustrated on 11/19 vs GSW. Despite finishing with just 7 points on an ugly 3/10 from the field, Ware salvaged a +3.4 impact by snatching 16 rebounds and completely monopolizing the glass. When he combines that rebounding tenacity with efficient shot selection, he becomes a terrifying matchup. Look no further than his towering performance on 11/23 vs PHI, where he racked up 20 points and 16 rebounds while hitting both of his threes to drive a staggering +19.5 impact score.
This twenty-game stretch was defined by a sudden, explosive mid-December breakout where Kel'el Ware briefly transformed into a lethal floor-spacing big. He completely broke the defense on 12/19 vs BOS, draining six three-pointers en route to 24 points, 14 rebounds, and a staggering +21.7 impact score. He followed that up with an equally dominant performance on 12/21 vs NYK, pairing pristine perimeter catch-and-shoot execution with 19 boards to post a +18.5 impact. Even when his jumper abandoned him, Ware found ways to tilt the floor. During a quiet four-point outing on 01/01 vs DET, he still managed a +4.0 impact because his elite rim protection and relentless work on the glass generated immense defensive value. However, poor shot selection occasionally dragged down his overall effectiveness. On 01/06 vs MIN, he strayed from his high-percentage interior diet to launch heavily contested triples, resulting in a negative -2.5 impact score despite grabbing 11 rebounds. While he eventually returned to a bench role by mid-January, his peak moments revealed a tantalizing ceiling as a modern two-way center.
This mid-season stretch was defined by Ware's evolution into a terrifying, high-volume rim protector who wrecked games without needing a single play called for him. Look no further than his masterpiece on 03/05 vs BKN. He logged 16 points and 11 rebounds, but his staggering +31.4 impact score was entirely fueled by an absolute masterclass in shot alteration (+6.7 defensive impact) and relentless hustle. Even when his offensive touch abandoned him, his sheer physical presence kept his overall value afloat. During the 01/17 vs OKC matchup, Ware bricked his way to just 7 points on 3-of-11 shooting, yet he still generated a +7.8 impact because his stout interior defense and nine rebounds completely bailed out his dreadful scoring. However, his lack of offensive polish occasionally poisoned his statistical footprint. On 03/12 vs MIL, he grabbed 13 rebounds as a starter but dragged his impact down to -4.7 because a disastrous 2-of-9 shooting night completely overshadowed his drop-coverage execution.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Volatile for his role. Ware has noticeable ups and downs, with scoring moving ~6 points between games.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 69% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive difference-maker. Ware consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Performance has dropped off. First-half impact: +6.8, second-half: +3.7. Worth watching whether it's fatigue, injury, or opponents adjusting.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 11 games. Longest cold streak: 3 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 73 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
72 games played