Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning doesn’t hand out compliments lightly. But when the team’s vice president of player development spoke about one of Miami’s rising prospects, his message said it all: talent gets you in the door, but growth keeps you there.
As the 2025 NBA Draft adds another wave of young potential to the roster, Mourning’s words serve as a reminder of the Heat’s expectations.
Alonzo Mourning Highlights Kel’el Ware’s Potential and Progress After NBA Draft
When the Heat selected Kel’el Ware with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, there was cautious optimism about what the 7-foot center might become. One year in, that optimism has grown into belief, especially from Mourning, the team’s Hall of Fame big man and current vice president of player programs and development.
“My first words to him were, ‘Welcome and let’s get to work,’” Mourning recalled. “And I told him, I said, ‘You have the potential to be one of the greatest players in Miami Heat franchise history. You have that potential. But you got to put in the work.’ And that’s how we started off the conversation.”
Mourning shared the comments during an interview on WQAM 560, at the team’s official draft party Wednesday night at Kaseya Center, according to the Miami Herald.
Ware, meanwhile, has quietly gone about doing just what Mourning has expected of him. As a rookie, he averaged 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds while anchoring the paint with shot-blocking and mobility. Mourning has taken note of the steady climb.
“He’s done just that,” Mourning said. “You think about how he started the season and how he ended it, he’s made incredible strides. So if we can continue to see that type of progress, then we’re on our way as a franchise.”
That message applies to more than just Ware. For any young player entering the league, the draft is only the beginning. The real measure is what comes next, and that’s the same challenge now facing Miami’s newest rookie.
Heat Add Playmaking Guard Kasparas Jakučionis With No. 20 Pick in 2025 NBA Draft
At the 2025 NBA Draft, the Heat continued building through youth, selecting Lithuanian combo guard Kasparas Jakučionis with the 20th pick. The 6’6” playmaker brings strong court vision, natural feel, and scoring ability. That pick came to Miami via the Jimmy Butler trade with the Golden State Warriors.
Kasparas Jakucionis is moving me pic.twitter.com/6Es7ZhvvHk
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) June 26, 2025
Jakučionis had a standout freshman season at Illinois, posting 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists across 33 games. While his 32% shooting from 3-point range shows room to grow, his size and floor leadership offer clear upside at the NBA level.
Like Ware last year, Jakučionis arrives with potential, but also questions about how quickly that potential can be unlocked. Mourning’s words to Ware could just as easily apply to him, and to every Heat rookie who comes in through the door.
The team is coming off a below-average campaign, finishing as the No. 8 seed and getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. While Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro remain central to the plan, the Heat know they need more contributors around them to climb back into contention.
