NBA Phoenix Suns

T.J. Warren’s Time With Phoenix Suns Will Come

Fresh Videos

By @RantSportsJacob

T.J. Warren

Jennifer Stewart – USA TODAY Sports

While the Phoenix Suns have begun to gel on their current road trip, rookie forward T.J. Warren has seen more time on the floor after playing in only one of the Suns’ first 10 games. During a two-game stint for the Suns’ NBA Developmental League team, the Bakersfield Jam, Warren put up some big numbers, averaging 36 PPG on 61 percent shooting.

The Suns brought last year’s leading ACC scorer back up immediately and have played him in each of their last three games. Warren hit some big shots against the Boston Celtics in a four-point Suns victory on Monday, played half a quarter against the Detroit Pistons Wednesday, and saw 19 minutes in a blowout against the Philadelphia 76ers yesterday.

But will he continue to get playing time?

Warren will need more games like Monday’s if he wants a spot in the rotation. He scoring seven points efficiently on 3-of-5 shooting, while helping out on the glass with three rebounds. He was clearly a man among boys in the D-League, showing Suns management that he does not belong there; however, it will be difficult for him to see consistent minutes with the array of scorers that the Suns have in their starting lineup and on the bench.

Veteran forward P.J. Tucker does a lot of dirty work off the Suns’ bench. He can stretch the floor with a solid three-point jump shot, help out on the offensive and defensive rebounding efforts, and strap up against opposing teams’ top scorers. Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek goes to Tucker often, not because he does one thing particularly well, but because he is versatile and brings more than just one skill to the floor.

With other veterans ahead of him in the starting lineup as well, Warren must be patient and focus on being a spark off the bench, getting the Suns’ offense going when they are in a drought. If there is any young player in this league who knows how to provide a spark to his team, it is Warren, who averaged 24.9 PPG last season at North Carolina State.

His time will come, as pure scorers are hard to come by in this league. Look for Warren to slowly creep his way into the rotation over the next couple months.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on