Pacers' Warren recovering slowly, still out indefinitely

T.J. Warren's foot injury will keep him sidelined longer than previously expected.

The Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday that although the stress fracture in the 28-year-old forward's left foot is healing, it isn't doing so "at the pace previously anticipated."

Therefore, Warren remains out indefinitely, casting doubt on his ability to return in time for the team's season opener at the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 23.

After scoring a career-best 19.8 points per game in 2019-20, Warren made just four appearances before undergoing surgery on his ailing appendage in December. He was officially ruled out for the remainder of the season in March.

The injury derailed an expected leap forward for Warren after he'd averaged 31 points and 6.3 rebounds during the eight-game seeding phase in the Disney World bubble in August 2020. For his efforts - including a 53-point deluge in the Pacers' return to action following the lengthy pandemic stoppage - Warren was named to the NBA's All-Bubble first team.

Warren will be a free agent after the 2021-22 campaign.