Yes, he was that good.
Former Indiana center Kel’el Ware was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team this season, the league announced. Ware averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 block per contest in 64 games this year. He made 36 starts.
Ware was the NBA’s rookie of the month in January after scoring 20 or more points three times in a four game span, including one in which he outscored Victor Wembanyama in a loss to the Spurs.
After struggling to find the court at Oregon, Ware’s development at Indiana under Mike Woodson was a high-point for a season that ended with missing the NCAA Tournament.
He may have only been in Bloomington for a year, but solidified it as a destination for high-profile transfers like Oumar Ballo, who signed with Indiana the year after Ware was drafted.
While Indiana appears to be moving away from the post-oriented offense that Woodson featured heavily during his time as head coach, Ware had the skillset for the modern game with an ability to knock down open threes that has carried over to the pros.
Given his talent and size, Ware’s success at the professional level is no surprise to those who watched him play at Indiana. He appears poised for a long NBA career.