Just after two of their players —Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns –represented the franchise in an unexpectedly entertaining All-Star Weekend, the New York Knicks have opened a pathway for nine-year NBA veteran TJ Warren to return to the league.

TJ Warren Joins Knicks’ NBAGL Team, How Far Can He Climb?

On Monday, the Knicks’ official NBA G League affiliate –the Westchester Knicks –announced that they acquired Warren via returning rights. 32 years old, Warren last played for Westchester in 2024-25, appearing in 36 games. In the tip-off tournament, he posted 25.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, shooting 52.0% from the field. During the regular season, he averaged 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game, shooting 36.2% from 3.

Warren had long been considered as a skilled scorer with a defensive bent, especially after his nearly mythical performance in the NBA bubble. Consequently, those numbers matched his reputation. However, after undergoing surgery to repair a midfoot stress fracture in Dec. 2020, there were concerns about his immediate and long-term future.

Sep 27, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers Forward TJ Warren (1) poses for a photo during media day at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Sure enough, Warren sat out for all of the 2021-22 season as he continued his injury rehab. In July 2022, he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets and played relatively well thereafter. At least, offensively. Nevertheless, the Nets sent him to the Phoenix Suns as part of the Kevin Durant trade in Feb. 2023. The Suns less inclined to play him, Warren only averaged 4.2 points in 12.3 minutes per game in Phoenix. That was essentially the beginning of the end, as he was forced to sign a pair of 10-day contracts with the Minnesota Timberwolves–essentially trying out for the team –in March 2024 before they brought him on for the remainder of the season.

It was only then that he united with the Knicks. In Oct. 2024, they signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract, waiving him two weeks later. Seasoned and battle-tested, he may have had a real shot at joining the parent roster. All the same, Exhibit 10s are usually doled out to players that will be routed to their G League affiliate. So, it wasn’t a shocker that he did end up in Westchester.

The Last Word on TJ Warren

Many will remember that New York strongly considered signing Warren around this time last season. Instead, they opted to sign 3-and-D forward PJ Tucker, who made more sense for a Tom Thibodeau team. However, Tucker played just 62 total minutes for the Knicks, and four in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. To that point, when it came down to it, he wasn’t very useful.

Warren may not make much more of an impact. Yet, with Knicks head coach Mike Brown putting more of an emphasis on offensive efficacy than his successor, he shouldn’t be discounted. There’s enough time for him to make noise in Westchester and Manhattan.