James Jones provides latest update on status of Suns’ T.J. Warren
Mar 20, 2019, 4:09 PM
(AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
(AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
The Phoenix Suns ruled out forward T.J. Warren for Thursday’s game against the Detroit Pistons due to right ankle soreness. That will be Warren’s 24th missed game in a row.
In an injury that has been described both by Warren and head coach Igor Kokoskov as a bone bruise, the question for the Suns becomes if they shut down Warren the rest of the season with only nine potential games left for him.
Co-interim general manager and vice president of basketball operations James Jones said that’s not in their plans at the moment.
“He’s working to get back and we’re pushing him and he’s pushing himself to get back,” he told 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Burns & Gambo. “Collectively, as a group, we all want him back.”
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Jones backed up the intention of the Suns to treat the end of the season seriously despite a record of 17-55, and having Warren back is a part of that.
“It’s important for him as one of our senior players, one of our leaders, one of our best players to fight with these guys until the end.”
Now, whether or not Warren will be in that fight on the court remains to be seen. Jones would not say anything regarding that.
“It’ll be tough getting him up to, I would say prime shape over the next two or three weeks, but it’s important that as we wind down the season (that) everyone on the roster is together, is pulling together, is competing,” he said.
“It’s inspirational to see T.J. finally get healthy and start to kind of pick it up because that just means that our team is stronger and we need that to finish the season.”
Warren was the biggest surprise on the Suns roster this season because of his shooting. After shooting 22.2 percent last year, Warren tripled his attempts per game from deep and nearly doubled his efficiency to 42.8 percent. He is also averaging 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and a career-high 1.5 assists a game.
