You could always count on #55 to bring the energy on and off the court.
The Big Blue Nation was always appreciative of the effort and toughness that Lance Ware brought to the table.
In his three seasons with the Kentucky Wildcats, the 6-foot-9 forward never averaged more than two points a game, but could always be counted on for the intangibles. He brought an aura with him that couldn’t be quantified on a stat sheet.
I can attest to the fact that Lance Ware was also one of the best trash-talkers in the last decade of UK hoops. His delivery wasn’t so much intimidating but rather comical, which regularly sent opponents into an anger-riddled frenzy. I enjoyed watching him bait the opposition time and time again, only to look over at a teammate with a devious smile.
I’ve also seen first-hand the love that Ware’s teammates had for him. Whether it was joking around or in the thick of a scuffle, you always knew that Lance would be right there in the middle of i,t supporting his brothers.
Sure, his game could have used some polishing, but from an effort standpoint, Coach Calipari couldn’t have asked for much more than what he got from Lance Ware on and off the floor.
Recently, he spoke with Christos Tsaltas from the Athletiko and shared a profound reflection on his time at UK and how special the fans were.
“They have better fans than most of the NBA teams, and they’re incredibly loyal. I know what it’s like, and I know how much the fans want to win, just like the players and the coaches want to win. So I think when you know that your fans are passionate and really want to win, and it makes them happy when their team wins, I think it gives you an extra incentive to go out there and play as hard as you can because you know there are kids who are fans of the team.” Ware said.
There’s no doubt that #55 will be welcome in Lexington whenever he wants to visit.