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Phoenix Suns: T.J. Warren’s Game Evolving After Summer Work

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 9, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) shoots the basketball in the second half of the NBA game against the Utah Jazz at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeat the Jazz 101-85. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) shoots the basketball in the second half of the NBA game against the Utah Jazz at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeat the Jazz 101-85. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (left) and Archie Goodwin get lunch during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Warren’s Summer

Coming off a strong finish to his rookie season, T.J. Warren’s summer was limited to NBA Summer League in the view of the public eye. And while Warren did impress in Las Vegas, averaging 18.7 points per game on 54 percent shooting to earn All-NBA Summer League First Team honors, Tony Buckets did his most important work behind closed doors.

Over the summer, Warren trained back home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he grew up and eventually played basketball for NC State. Warren said his parents’ place is right down the street from the Wolfpack’s practice facility, where he regularly worked out with veteran David West, who went to high school in North Carolina.

“Just us two, we did some boxing and a lot of different type of stuff,” Warren said. “Most definitely basketball every day. Just add on different types of things to stay in shape.”

West has been a mentor for Tony Buckets since he first started playing for Garner Road Basketball Club in Raleigh at age 11. The two participated in a charity basketball game over the summer to help the “Building A Stronger Raleigh Together” campaign, and Warren also took a class at NC State during their first session of summer school.

While the boxing served as a good cardio workout that strengthened his core and helped him stay in shape, Warren also spent his summer days putting the “Dail” in “daily” with his basketball training at NC State’s practice facility, which is known as the Dail Center.

“We might as well have a cot for him at the gym,” NC State coach Mark Gottfried told Joe Giglio of The News & Observer. “He lives at the Dail Center.”

Most of the Suns, like Eric Bledsoe, Alex Len and even Brandon Knight, showed up to Media Day noticeably bulked up, but Warren’s slightly sturdier frame went unnoticed.

“I pretty much stayed the same,” Warren said. “I know I feel a lot stronger getting through screens and I think some of that comes with just being used to it as well, just getting used to fighting over screens at this level too. My body feels a lot better, I’m just going to continue to work on it and continue to develop as a player in this league.”

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