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Phoenix Suns: Expect A Breakout Season For T.J. Warren In 2015-16

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 7, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) drives against Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott (32) in the first quarter of their game at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) drives against Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott (32) in the first quarter of their game at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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T.J. Warren
Feb 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) puts up a layup against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

What We Saw In 2014-15

As a rookie, Warren averaged a lukewarm 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game. Once he started getting consistent minutes, however, his knack for putting the ball in the basket was on full display.

His 52.8 field goal percentage ranked seventh among rookies, but of the six players in front of him, only Mitch McGary (165) and Tarik Black (273) attempted a noteworthy amount of field goals compared to Warren (214).

The young small forward will need to work on being able to spread the floor with a three-point shot in the future, but he stuck to his strengths as a rookie and was highly efficient around the basket, where the majority of his shots came from:

T.J. Warren
T.J. Warren’s 2014-15 shot chart, per NBA.com /

Warren attempted 62 percent of his shots right at the basket, converting at a 64 percent rate — nine percent better than the league average. That’s pretty darn efficient, especially since he consistently passed the eye test as the Suns’ smartest player on the offensive end of the floor.

Warren is able to finish around contact and does a great job using the underside of the rim as protection against pursuing defenders, but he got a good number of open looks simply by sneaking to the right spot on the floor.

This kid has a nose for the basket and when you pair that with his speed off the dribble and his deadly efficient floater, you’ve got a player that’s nearly impossible to stop in the midrange or when he’s attacking the basket — either in the half-court or in transition.

Warren had some problems working within the team’s defensive schemes, but he held his own in one-on-one situations and he’s only going to get better. He wasn’t a star in his first NBA season, but he showed plenty of potential to inspire belief in his future and excitement for the day he starts to put it all together.

Next: The Opportunity Is There

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