Indiana Pacers: T.J. Warren finally getting the recognition he deserves

T.J. Warren has taken the NBA by storm with several impressive outings for the Indiana Pacers, finally receiving some much-deserved recognition.

Heading into the NBA’s restart, the Indiana Pacers were a team that most did not pay much mind. They were the Eastern Conference’s 5-seed at the time, but with Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis battling through injury, this team appeared depleted. However, Indiana forward T.J. Warren has provided a sensational spark to propel the Pacers forward.

In his first three games in the ‘bubble’, Warren is averaging 39.7 points per game on 66.4 percent field goal shooting, and 57.2 percent shooting from 3-point territory. In other words, T.J. Warren has been virtually unstoppable with the ball in his hands in Indiana’s first three-game stretch, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

With a 119-point three-game stretch in the books, Warren fell just short of shattering Pacers’ history, as he tied Jermaine O’Neil’s highest point total over three games in franchise history. Postgame, the forward assured that although he fell short, they are focused on the future, stating, “I feel great. We’re locked in on all levels.”

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Warren is not putting up meaningless stats either, as the Indiana Pacers are now 3-0 in the restart, picking up victories against the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, and Orlando Magic. Despite the team still not being at full strength with Sabonis out of the bubble tending to a foot injury, and Oladipo hampered by injury, the Pacers continue to assure everyone they are not a pushover.

If T.J. Warren can continue his lethal scoring barrage as the season progresses into the postseason, the Indiana Pacers could be a team that surprises many. They might not be in that upper echelon of contenders just yet, but if they are playing at this level without their All-Star forward or guard at full strength, they could be dangerous if they can recuperate.

For now, as the Pacers battle for seeding position, the focus remains on Warren and his incredible run that has got people talking. This recognition is long overdue and a shame that it took a 119 point three-game stretch for people to take notice of him. After his trade to Indiana last offseason from the Phoenix Suns, Warren has provided a vital boost offensively for the Pacers, something he has done for most of his career. In his six seasons in the NBA thus far, the 26-year-old has averaged double-digit scoring five times, but before this prolific scoring outburst, most people had not heard of him.

Playing for the subpar Phoenix Suns might be a significant reason for that, as he was essentially putting up empty stats. The forward averaged 14.4 points per game in his five-year tenure with the Suns, his 6.1 points per game during his rookie campaign weighing that number down drastically. Still, despite the circumstances, he was developing into a lethal scorer, averaging 18.0 points per game last season.

What makes Warren’s sudden claim to fame in Indiana more compelling is that the Suns essentially traded him away as a salary dump. Looking to re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr. and a point guard last offseason, Phoenix traded away T.J. and a second-round pick to Indiana for cash considerations. Re-signing Oubre was undoubtedly necessary for the Suns, but after they traded away Warren, he issued a warning to them and the entire league.

Warren told The Athletic:

"“I’m ready to show the whole NBA – and not just the Suns for making the wrong decision – that the Pacers made the right decision. I’m worth more than cash considerations. It’s on me to prove it. But the Suns messed up.”"

The rest is history.

Since then, Warren has done nothing but contribute top-tier offense, but no one batted an eye for most of the season. His scuffle with Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler back in January earned him some screen time, but nothing revolving around his play until now.

Averaging upwards of 17 points per game prior to the shutdown, it seemed like Warren had earned the title of the NBA’s most underrated player, previously belonging to Jrue Holiday. Although he has never quite gone on such a dynamic run as he has done recently, Warren has always been a stellar scorer, but a player flying far under the radar. However, with his recent scoring barrage taking the NBA fandom by storm, everyone now knows the name T.J. Warren, and deservingly so.