Indiana Pacers preseason player award predictions

Pacers leading scorer: T.J. Warren

With questions still looming over Oladipo’s physical health, I don’t think we should jump the gun and give the two-time All-Star and former leader in this category this predicted title. Since our other All-Star Domas Sabonis has not played in months due to the plantar fasciitis in his foot, and with three other healthy scorers in our starting unit, I decided against him for this prediction.

Granted he will likely get minutes with the second unit as he did with Nate McMillan, I believe the change in pace offensively will affect his output. With the team’s goals being focused around the three-point line, I have to pivot from Sabonis here.

The main reason being his consistency. In his first season as an Indiana Pacer, Warren only missed six games, which was huge for a team riddled with injuries all season long.

Throughout the year he led the team in scoring with 1,326 points while averaging 19.8 points per game and shooting 53 percent from the field, both of which were career highs.

The last Pacer to put up those numbers was Paul George, who scored 1,377 in the 2012-13 season, which was also the first year he was selected to be an All-Star.

Now Warren was not selected as an All-Star before the pandemic that suspended the NBA season, but during the NBA restart, Warren elevated his game even further.

In the NBA bubble, he averaged 31.0 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Pacers, as well as making the All-Seeding Games First Team.

I think with the new coaching staff Warren is going to get many opportunities to succeed this season, and now that he has shown what he is capable of, he’s my pick.