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Top G League performances weren't enough for this veteran's NBA return
T.J. Warren delivered one of the most impressive individual campaigns of the 2024-25 G League season. Suiting up for the Westchester Knicks, the former NBA scoring threat averaged 23.7 points per game across the Tip-Off Tournament and regular season, showcasing his trademark offensive craft.
In February, he etched his name into the franchise record books with a 47-point outburst that marked a new single-game scoring record for Westchester.
But despite the production, efficiency and accolades, an NBA call-up never came.
T.J. WARREN EVERYONE pic.twitter.com/kj3UBRgXT9
— Westchester Knicks (@wcknicks) February 8, 2025
Warren's resume this season resembled a blueprint for any veteran attempting to claw their way back into the league. He was named to the G League Winter Showcase All-Tournament Team, shot nearly 55 percent from the field during the event, and helped guide Westchester to their second consecutive Showcase Cup title.
Throughout the season, his scoring remained elite and his availability was consistent. He also did it on the back of an Exhibit 10 deal, a contract with no guaranteed NBA opportunity.
Nevertheless, NBA teams largely looked elsewhere. Franchises prioritized younger players on two-way contracts or gambled on raw prospects with upside. Even the Knicks, who had Warren in their system, opted not to elevate the 31-year-old despite his standout form. Instead, they signed 39-year-old P.J. Tucker to a 10-day contract in March.
Following Tucker's signing, reports surfaced that Warren had parted ways with Westchester. This move reflected his frustration with being repeatedly overlooked for an NBA call-up.
New York had loaded up their G League affiliate with veteran talent, selecting Matt Ryan and Landry Shamet as the top two picks in the 2024 G League Draft. All three — Ryan, Shamet and Warren — began the season in Westchester.
Ryan received the first call-up, followed by Shamet, but Warren’s call never arrived.
It's a familiar story for veterans on the fringes. Production is no longer the primary currency in today’s NBA; potential often trumps performance. At 31, Warren’s age and injury history likely worked against him — even as his play suggested he still had plenty to offer.
He last appeared in the NBA in 2024 with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but his most memorable run came in the 2020 Orlando bubble. There, he dropped a career-high 53 points in one game, averaged 31 across eight seeding contests, and earned All-Bubble First Team honors.
That version of Warren never fully returned at the NBA level. But in the G League this season, he came close and proved he could be effective if called up.
More must-reads:
- Mikal Bridges kept up his streaks start in weak way
- Knicks' reserves lead comeback win over Nets
- The '2024 NBA All-Stars' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Led by Julius Randle, Wolves top Warriors to clinch series
Julius Randle scored 29 points on 13-for-18 shooting, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on for a 121-110 win over the Golden State Warriors to clinch their Western Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. Anthony Edwards finished with 22 points and 12 assists for Minnesota, which won the best-of-seven series in five games. The Timberwolves advanced to the conference finals, where they will await the winner of the semifinal series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets. "It's great," Randle said of reaching the conference finals. "We've had a season full of adversity. Coach (Chris Finch) said at the end of the regular season that we didn't do anything as far as trades or firing coaches. We just stuck together, and we got through it together. "I'm super proud of our team, everybody that stepped up in some type of way this year. We got win No. 8 (in the playoffs). We've got to keep going." Brandin Podziemski scored 28 points on 11-for-19 shooting to lead Golden State. Jonathan Kuminga added 26 points off the bench, and Jimmy Butler III chipped in 17 points and six assists. "It was a fight," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "I'm really proud of our guys. They hung in there and they battled the whole way through. "(It was) quite a turnaround in our season from where we were a few months ago to giving ourselves a chance and having a swing at the plate for some real chances to go deep. We were right there. Obviously it didn't go our way. The Wolves were great, they deserved it. But I'm very proud of our team." The Warriors dropped their fourth straight game without Stephen Curry, who watched in street clothes from the bench. Curry injured his left hamstring in the series opener after leading Golden State to a first-round playoff series win over the Houston Rockets. Kerr said of the challenge of playing without Curry, "Injuries are part of the playoffs. I learned a long time ago that the playoffs are really about health and then just guys stepping up and making some big shots, big plays in key games. That's what decides every series. "We've been on both ends of that. It's just part of it. There's no sense in dwelling on it, and I don't want to take anything away from what Minnesota just accomplished." The Timberwolves led by as many as 25 points late in the third quarter. Randle dribbled the ball from one end of the court to the other and finished with a running layup to give the Timberwolves a 93-68 edge with 1:01 remaining in the third. The Warriors made a determined push in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to nine. Moses Moody drained a 3-pointer to bring Golden State within 99-90 with 7:11 to play. Edwards helped Minnesota regain a double-digit advantage moments later. He knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Timberwolves on top 102-90, and Jaden McDaniels increased the lead to 14 points with a steal and a layup with 6:36 remaining. "The team has come together at the right time and is playing its best basketball," Finch said. The Timberwolves led 62-47 at the half. Golden State trailed 45-42 after Podziemski made a jump shot with 4:11 left in the half. Minnesota closed the second quarter on a 17-5 run to grab a 15-point lead. Randle finished the first-half scoring with a three-point play after making a layup and drawing a foul. The Timberwolves shot 62.8 percent (49 of 78) overall and 41.9 percent (13 of 31) from beyond the arc. The Warriors shot 43.3 percent (39 of 90) from the field and 28.2 percent (11 of 39) from 3-point range.
Steelers fans finally learn truth about what went down with George Pickens
The Pittsburgh Steelers made the big-time decision to trade star wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the 2025 season. Pickens had developed into one of the league’s most physically gifted wideouts, but his time in Pittsburgh was consistently filled with controversy. Steelers general manager Omar Khan said the organization felt a fresh start was best for both sides, putting an end to the Pickens era with a short but telling statement. The move, while surprising to some fans, was less about on-field production and more about maintaining a stable locker-room culture. Mike Tomlin has always placed a premium on team-first players, and the front office is focused on building a roster that reflects that mindset. Since Pickens' departure, more stories have started to surface about what happened behind closed doors. Steelers insider Gerry Dulac appeared on 102.5 WDVE’s "Morning Show with Randy Baumann" and offered more insight into why the team chose to part ways with the wide receiver. "It was so bad that they made the move right now and didn't even wait till later," Dulac said. "The litany of violations apparently were endless. I remember one of the players telling me last year during the season that the people internally don't even realize half the violations that he commits." According to Dulac, the coaching staff had grown increasingly frustrated with Pickens' behavior and attitude, calling it a constant source of tension. While no one questions his talent, it became clear that the Steelers believed the headaches off the field were no longer worth the production on it. "The players, they see that, they're not going to tolerate that. If the coaches and management don't do something about it, then they lose respect for them," Dulac said. "Mike Tomlin makes all roster decisions and the only way he doesn't is if Art Rooney [II] trumps him and says no, that's not going to happen. But Mike Tomlin had had enough. It just goes to show you how big a problem it had become that they thought they don't even wanna start the season with the guy." From sideline outbursts to cryptic social media posts, Pickens often found himself at the center of drama, and eventually, Tomlin and the front office had seen enough. The team also faced the financial reality of an expiring rookie contract and likely wasn’t planning to offer a big extension. By trading him now, the Steelers secured valuable draft capital rather than risk losing him for nothing. It's a tough reality for Steelers fans to watch yet another talented wide receiver forced out of the Steel City. Ahead of the 2024 season, Pittsburgh made a similar move by trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, parting ways with a player who was once seen as a top target in the league. Since then, Johnson has bounced around, briefly landing with the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans before ending up with the Cleveland Browns for the 2025 season. Steelers' Mike Tomlin appears to know when to move on from wide receivers So far, Johnson's career has taken a downward turn since leaving Pittsburgh. Historically, when Tomlin decides to move on from a wide receiver, he tends to be right. Still, the story isn’t finished yet, and many Steelers fans believe Pickens has the talent to break the trend. His ceiling remains incredibly high, even if his time in Pittsburgh was marked by inconsistency and distractions. Pickens arrived in Pittsburgh with star potential but never fully lived up to it. While he flashed brilliance, his impact was overshadowed by constant drama and questions about maturity. Now, he'll get a fresh start in Dallas on a one-year prove-it deal, hoping to turn the page and finally become the dominant receiver many expected him to be.
Winners and losers of 2025 NFL schedule release: Giants wish they could change their schedule
On Wednesday, the NFL released its 2025 schedule. It's fair to wonder if the New York Giants wish they could swap schedules with the San Francisco 49ers. Along with the Giants and 49ers, here are three other winners and losers from Wednesday's schedule release: Winner: San Francisco 49ers Injuries to running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (ACL/MCL) derailed the 49ers' championship aspirations last season. The 49ers went 6-11, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. Perhaps the schedule makers felt they should take it easy on them after the disappointing season. Per John Breech of CBS Sports, 49ers opponents had a combined 120-169 record in 2024, giving them the easiest schedule in the NFL. If San Francisco can take advantage of its easy schedule and 2023 Offensive Player of the Year McCaffrey can stay healthy, they could become a Super Bowl contender again in 2025. Loser: New York Giants The Giants went 3-14 last season, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Although they took Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart with pick No. 25 in the 2025 NFL Draft, Giants head coach Brian Daboll has said Russell Wilson is the starter. Wilson, who finished 22nd in the league in QBR (51.3) in 11 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, may not ignite New York's passing attack. A demanding schedule could compound New York's problems. According to Breech, Giants opponents had a combined 166-123 record in 2024, giving them the hardest schedule in the NFL. In three of their first four games, they face teams that made the playoffs last season (the Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers). Don't be stunned if New York gets off to a slow start and the seats of Daboll and Giants general manager Joe Schoen get a little warmer. Winner: New England Patriots The Patriots were dreadful last season, going 4-13. However, they could be on the upswing this upcoming season. QB Drake Maye looked promising during his rookie season in 2024, tossing 15 touchdown passes in 13 games. He could reach the next level under new head coach Mike Vrabel, who won the 2021 Coach of the Year award when he was with the Tennessee Titans. A manageable schedule could benefit the Patriots. They face just four teams that made the playoffs last season (Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Baltimore Ravens). Plus, three of their first four games are at home. Loser: Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys went 7-10 during the 2024 season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. This offseason, they replaced Mike McCarthy with rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Despite that, the schedule makers didn't give the Cowboys a pass. According to Breech, their opponents had a combined 161-128 record in 2024, tying their schedule for the fifth-most difficult in the NFL. In Week 1, Dallas plays the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending Super Bowl champions, on the road, which could be an early loss. Per Nick Shook of NFL.com, reigning Super Bowl champions are 20-5 in Week 1 since the 2000 season. Winner: Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen Allen won the 2024 MVP after posting the league's second-highest QBR (77.3) and tying for seventh in TD passes (28) in 17 starts. The Bills' favorable schedule may allow him to produce similar results in 2025. In a story published Wednesday, ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg reported the Bills travel the second-fewest miles of any team in the NFL (10,546). More importantly, they don't face top passing defenses early in the season. In Week 1, the Bills host the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of their 2024 AFC divisional-round matchup (Buffalo won that game 27-25.) Baltimore, of course, allowed the league's second-most passing yards (244.1) in the regular season in 2024. Loser: Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward Ward — the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft — could get his welcome to the NFL moment in Weeks 1 and 2. In a Week 1 road matchup, the Titans play the Denver Broncos, who led the league in sacks (63) last season. The following week, they host the Los Angeles Rams, who boast a deep defense that features EDGE Jared Verse, the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year. At rookie minicamp, Ward told the media, "I want to be one of the great ones." However, practice patience for the Miami product. He may not look like a franchise QB in his first two games. Winner: Los Angeles Rams The Rams lost to the Eagles 28-22 in the 2024 NFC divisional round. Their schedule puts them in a position to win the NFC West for a second straight year and make another deep playoff run. The combined 2024 record of Rams opponents was 142-147, via Breech, tying their schedule for the 16th-most difficult in the NFL. Two of their first four games are at home and against teams that didn't make the playoffs in 2024 (Titans, Indianapolis Colts). The Rams face the Buccaneers in Week 12 and the Detroit Lions in Week 15, both of which were playoff teams last season. However, they host both of those games. Loser: Kansas City Chiefs The Chiefs aim to rebound from their 40-22 loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. A tough stretch at the beginning of the season could make that challenging. In six of its first nine games, KC faces six teams that made the playoffs last season. This stretch includes a Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles at home in Week 2 and a road game against the Bills in Week 9. The Chiefs went 15-2 in 2024, winning 11 games by one possession. Can they bank on that luck again in 2025? They may need it.
'It’s The Right Thing': LeBron James’ Agent Rich Paul Gives Honest Take On Mavs Possibly Trading Cooper Flagg
Reporter reveals what Falcons wanted regarding possible Kirk Cousins trade
As of the afternoon of May 14, it certainly seemed as if the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins were willing to remain attached to each other through the 2025 season even though 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. has replaced Cousins atop Atlanta's depth chart. For an article published on Wednesday, Dan Graziano of ESPN shared why the Falcons have held onto Cousins after teams such as the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers passed on trading for the veteran ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. "Stubbornness likely had something to do with it," Graziano said. "[The Falcons] signed Cousins for $100M in guaranteed money 14 months ago, and team ownership wasn't thrilled about the idea of releasing him after doling out all that money for 14 not-so-great games in 2024. And when it came time to talk trade, the Falcons were asking interested teams to pay a significant portion of that remaining $37.5M in guaranteed money. That meant those teams weren't offering the Falcons a return that Atlanta deemed worthwhile." Cousins' relationship with the Falcons clearly changed once the club grabbed Penix with the eighth overall pick of the 2024 draft less than two months after the 36-year-old left the Vikings to sign with Atlanta as a free agent. Additionally, a report from this past winter indicated some within the Falcons were left upset over the fact they didn't know just how banged up Cousins was during the second half of the 2024 season as Atlanta went from 6-3 to 7-7. The Falcons turned to Penix after Week 15 but ultimately missed the playoffs. Cousins' contract includes a full no-trade clause, and he presumably won't relocate his family for the second straight offseason unless a team is willing to immediately name him its starter. While the Vikings and Browns have filled their quarterback rooms via other transactions, the Steelers reportedly "remain optimistic that" they will soon have Aaron Rodgers as their starter. "If another team's starter gets hurt in minicamp or training camp," Graziano added about Cousins' future, "a fresh market could emerge. But given the way the offseason has gone, it's probably time we took the Falcons at their word when they say they're fine keeping Cousins as the backup in 2025." As of the middle of May, there was no sign that Cousins would cause any problems for the Falcons this summer. Penix is an unproven commodity who has made just three career regular-season starts, so one wonders how the Atlanta coaching staff will react if the 25-year-old plays poorly across a handful of games this coming fall.
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