Breaking Down the Pod- Will Kel’el Ware Ever Reach Bam Adebayo’s Level?

🧩 Breaking Down the Pod: Episode 1

🎧 Will Kel’el Ware Ever Reach Bam Adebayo’s Level?

📢 Don’t miss a pod!
Subscribe to Five on the Floor on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Sponsors: RealEstateShoppeFL.com, PrizePicks.com (use code: five)

Welcome to the first installment of “Breaking Down the Pod”, a new series where I dive into episodes from our team at Five on the Floor—pulling out the key takeaways, heated debates, and adding my own thoughts on the conversation.

We’re kicking things off with a big one: a bold question about the Miami Heat’s rookie big man, Kel’el Ware.

Podcast Hosts: Ethan Skolnick & Alex Toledo

🧠 The Premise

With Ware earning a spot on the Kia NBA All-Rookie Second Team, hosts Ethan Skolnick and Alex Toledo compare his promising rookie campaign to Bam Adebayo’s early years. Could Ware follow a similar path? Could he one day surpass Bam?

📊 Stat Check

Rookie Year Comparison:

Ware also impressed in Summer League, averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game on 55% shooting. The raw tools? Absolutely there.

🎙️ Podcast Highlights

Toledo sees Ware as a potential high-level role player, praising his tools but pointing to a long developmental road ahead. He highlighted how both Bam and Ware entered the league as screen-and-roll bigs, but emphasized the key differences:

• Ware is more of a vertical athlete, a rim protector who still over-commits in pick-and-roll coverage, bites on fakes, and lacks the polished decision-making.

• Bam has evolved into a 20/10/5 player with elite defense, court vision, and the ability to switch 1-through-5—traits that go beyond raw stats.

Ethan added that even Bam himself sees DPOY potential in Ware, which speaks volumes.

“I seen a kid that, Spo didn’t play him and the beginning but we was begging him to play…I’m proud of him…I said it before I think he can be a great player in this league…”

Ethan also noted how the game seems to come easy to Ware due to his size and athleticism:

“There are nights you just look up and he’s got 14 and 9 — and you’re wondering how the hell it happened.”

But Ethan also emphasized Bam’s basketball IQ, calling him a “smarter player” who reads the floor and reacts at an elite level—something Ware hasn’t shown yet.

Ultimately Alex and Ethan’s discussion led to them concluding that for the right guy, Ware is available for the taking, but there is untapped potential there, one that Ethan projects to be possibly higher than Alex does.

🧱 My Take

Kel’el Ware’s ceiling is out of this world. At 7’0″ with a 7’5″ wingspan, he’s an athletic freak who can shoot, block, and finish at the rim with ease. The comparison to Bam is fair in terms of physical growth and potential—but let’s be real: there’s a massive gap in skill, motor, and defensive discipline right now.

In the playoffs, we saw him get pushed around physically, especially by veteran frontcourts. His positioning and footwork were exposed, particularly by Cleveland.

That said, there’s proof he’s willing to work. At Indiana, after being knocked for his motor and consistency, he responded:

“Being pushed outside my comfort zone definitely helped me out. Every day in practice I was being pushed to go past the limit.”

That mentality matters.

For Ware it is going to be about continuing to develop the fundamentals and strength required to play big in today’s NBA. Even Chet Holmgren has room to grow, especially in the strength department.

I look for Ware to work with someone in these areas to help accelerate his growth and reach his untapped potential. It will be a big summer for Ware as trade rumors rise and the hunt for an All-Star selection begins.

Here was my take in December- WAM

🔁 Final Verdict

Can Ware reach Bam’s level?

Yes—but only if the Heat continue to mold him with the same patience and intensity, they gave Bam. He needs to improve his strength, motor, footwork, and defensive reads. But he’s shown enough flashes—and if given the time and developmental support, the sky truly is the limit.

As Toledo and Skolnick agree: Ware isn’t completely untouchable, but for the right deal, maybe. That alone says a lot about how highly he’s already valued.

📣 Join the Community

• Off The Floor Discord: Click Here (scroll down)

• OnlyFins (Dolphins fans): /discord