Lance Ware embracing his role as Kentucky's leader: "I'm just a basketball junkie"

Lance Ware is only averaging 10.8 minutes per game this season, but he’s still one of the most visible players on the Kentucky roster. Not necessarily because of the on-court skills he brings to the hardwood — tenacious energy, a never-back-down attitude, and sound defensive tendencies — but because of the value he brings off of it.

Whether he’s going nose-to-nose with the opposing team’s brute-sized center or standing on the sidelines right next to the coaches, swinging a towel over his head in support of his teammates, Ware is tough to miss whenever Kentucky is in action, even if he’s not always in the action himself.

Now in year three with the Wildcats, the 6-foot-9 junior has rarely been a consistent piece of the rotation for head coach John Calipari. Ware has appeared in 71 games during his time in Lexington, but with just nine total starts as the backup to whichever star big man was playing in front of him. As a freshman, he backed up Isaiah Jackson and Olivier Sarr, both now playing in the NBA. As a sophomore, it was Oscar Tshiebwe during his National Player of the Year campaign.

This season, he’s once again playing behind Tshiebwe, but through it all, Ware’s attitude has never changed. More importantly, his approach as one of the program’s leaders has never changed. If anything, he’s only embracing it even more.

“That’s always been my role, that’s the type of person I am, my personality. Just a leader,” Ware said on Friday ahead of Kentucky’s matchup with Auburn on Saturday.

Ware’s on-court role with the 2022-23 Kentucky Wildcats has fluctuated at times throughout the season (he played 30 minutes as a starter against Missouri back in late December, only to play three minutes off the bench the very next time out against Louisville), but something that hasn’t is his mentality. He knows that what’s best for this group might not require him to play extended minutes. When his moment is called, though, he’s always mentally ready to attack the challenge.

You need someone to come in and crash the glass with no regard for anything else? Ware is the guy. You need someone to stick his nose into a mess and give his team an edge? Ware is the guy. You want someone who comes to work and doesn’t complain about playing time? Again, Ware is the guy.

What did Lance Ware say here?

Wrong answers only pic.twitter.com/HYGHz3Cy8i

— Big Blue Nation #BBN (@UKBasketbalI) January 14, 2023

For Ware, who was a four-star recruit and top 40 prospect out of high school, it’s not all about stats and personal accolades. He just wants to win, and he’ll do whatever he needs to make that happen. If that means watching from the sidelines to encourage and coach up his teammates, he’ll take no issue in doing so. But make no mistake, that is rare for someone who is still incredibly talented at the game of basketball and wants to be out there with his teammates.

“I mean I love basketball so it’s just like, being able to watch, tell guys certain things, or tell Coach something that I see or be able to give encouragement or cheer. I don’t know, I’m just a basketball junkie,” Ware said. “Just being there and when I get in is even better because I get to play and do my thing.”

Ware is proving that you don’t have to score 20 points per game to make a significant impact. If his teammates aren’t cheering from the bench during a critical moment in the game, Ware is the first one off the pine to pump everyone up. Even if he only plays two minutes in a game, he’s going to give everything he’s got.

It’s not often a backup center receives a standing ovation after just playing a handful of minutes, which is exactly what happened during Kentucky’s most recent win over Tennessee. Ware played a total of nine minutes against the Vols, recording just one point and two rebounds, but there wasn’t a fan in Rupp Arena unaware of everything he’s done and continues to do.

John Calipari on Lance Ware: "He was a big part of today's game. And I love that the fans went crazy for him. That's what we should be having, not the other stuff."

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) February 18, 2023

As a self-described “basketball junkie”, Ware has a keen eye for what’s happening during a high-intensity game. He sees things from a perspective that most can’t. That’s helped him gain confidence from the coaching staff, and he uses that to help his teammates whenever appropriate.

“I do coach a little bit, but just say certain things,” Ware added. “Like if Oscar needs help with something or I see something that he could be doing better, I’ll let him know. Just anything. I’ll tell Chin (Coleman) something about maybe we should ‘ice’ a ballscreen or maybe we should try to whip it or go through or fight over. Stuff like that. Just try to give my input so we can win the game because that’s what it’s all about.”

Ware fully understands what being an actual leader means. The ultimate goal is to win games and championships, but everyone has to buy into that, from the top of the roster to the very bottom. Ware is somewhere in the middle, building the bridge that helps connect everything together.

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