Warren wants to return to Suns
Out 22 games, he wants to play by end of season
NEW ORLEANS – T.J. Warren was smiling at the end of Friday’s shootaround at Toyota Center.
Shooting jump shots. Having fun with coaches.
Warren would have felt even better if he were preparing to play, but he’s missed 22 consecutive games with what Phoenix has called right ankle soreness.
As Warren confirmed, it’s more than that as he sat Saturday’s game at New Orleans in the second of a back-toback.
“Mentally, it’s been tough,” Warren said. “It’s one of those things that’s kind of tricky. It’s like a bone bruise. Sometimes you feel it. Sometimes, it gets better. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s one of those things that’s on or off. I just want to make sure I’m myself before I’m back.”
Warren’s been out since Jan. 22 when he reinjured it in the first half of a loss to Minnesota. Those bruises have been known to take up to two months to heal.
“I just want to make sure I’m all the way back,” Warren added.
Warren also made it clear he wants to play before the season ends. The Suns will have 12 games left after Friday’s game.
“That’s the goal,” said Warren, who is second on the team in scoring behind Devin Booker at 18 points a game.
“I’m just trying to do everything possible to make sure I’m mentally and physically ready.”
Warren had a right foot fracture in late January 2016 that required surgery the next month and cut his second season NBA season short as he only played in 47 games.
Warren played 66 and 65 games the next two seasons, respectively, but he’s only played 43 games this season.
“T.J. is a very talented player, an importance piece to this roster,” Kokoskov said before Phoenix played Wednesday against Utah. “At this point, no updates on his medical status. He’s got to feel healthy. He’s got to feel better. He’s got to be available and then we’ll use him.”
Back in late November, Warren felt discomfort against Indiana in a 25point performance. He played 39 minutes in that game the Suns lost to the Pacers.
Phoenix left for Los Angeles to play the Clippers in the second of a back-toback. Warren played 34 minutes in the game, but an MRI revealed he had a bruise.
Warren missed just five games before returning Dec. 10 against the Clippers. The 6-8 forward then played 23 games before reinjuring it in late January against the Timberwolves.
Kokoskov has described his ankle injury as a “(chronic) thing,” but Warren playing through the injury likely made it worse. This latest stretch of games he’s missed were during the early stages of Phoenix’s franchise-record 17-game losing skid.
The Suns are 6-4 in their last 10 games after Saturday’s overtime win at
— Phoenix (17-54) is coming off a 138-136 overtime win at New Orleans as Devin Booker scored 40 points with his final point being the game winner from the free throw line. … This will be the second of a back-toback for Chicago as the Bulls play Sunday at Sacramento. … Phoenix lost at Chicago, 124-116, back in November as the Bulls shot 11-of-25 from 3. … Phoenix is 6-4 in its last 10 games. New Orleans.
“They’ve been playing really well as of late,” Warren said. “It’s really enjoyable to watch guys being effective out there. Doing the right things. Moving the ball. Now they’ve got a little groove going. I see the growth. I see them physically and mentally engaged out there.”
The Suns could use Warren’s offensive efficiency and versatility.
Shooting 48.6 percent from the field, Warren has knocked down a career-high 42.8 percent of his 3-pointers after shooting a career-low 22.2 percent from distance last season. Showing the ability to knock down catch-and-shoot threes, Warren had hit 77 3-pointers this season.
He only made 20 on 90 attempts from deep last season.
Warren has been rehabbing the ankle, but he’s been mostly just shooting in practice and hasn’t participated in team practices, Kokoskov said.
“There’s a process, there are steps he has to follow before he can start playing games,” Kokoskov said. “So I don’t have any updates when it comes to his status. I want him on the court.”