Phoenix Suns: 5 Keys To T.J. Warren's Rookie Season

Phoenix Suns: 5 Keys To T.J. Warren’s Rookie Season

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; T.J. Warren (North Carolina State) gets a hug from NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number fourteen overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 20, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack forward T.J. Warren (24) reacts during a timeout against the Saint Louis Billikens during the second half of a men /

3. Adjust To A Bench Role:

This is true for most rookies, but it’s especially vital for a guy who finished third in the NCAA in scoring and averaged 35.4 minutes per game last season. As much as I’d love to say Warren can step into an NBA starting lineup and start scoring 15-18 points per game as a rookie, that’s just not realistic. Warren’s nose for the basket is the reason the Suns drafted him in the first place, but now the challenge will become harnessing that scoring power into concentrated bursts off the bench.

Warren still has two big areas where he needs to develop (more on those in a minute) and those issues will prevent him from usurping P.J. Tucker in the starting lineup. But if he proves he can still be effective in limited minutes as a reserve, he’ll eventually earn more playing time and be able to expand his game from there. To his credit, Warren seemed to have no problem putting the ball in the basket in balanced minutes during Summer League, so this might not even be an issue.

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