Jameel Warney geared up for promotion to Dallas Mavericks

For the better part of two seasons, Jameel Warney’s friends, family and supporters would argue, the NBA has slept on the former Stony Brook star. So it’s fitting that Warney was asleep on the NBA Wednesday afternoon when word began to leak that he finally was close to signing a 10-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

Warney is in his second season with the Texas Legends, the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, and he was napping before that night’s game.

“The funny thing was I woke up from my nap, looked at my phone and nothing was there,” Warney said. “I went back to sleep and maybe 45 minutes later, I turned my phone back on and had missed calls and a whole bunch of text messages.

“I went on Twitter and was seeing what was on Twitter, and I saw a lot of people were giving me congratulations. So I called my agent and asked what was going on, and he told me, ‘The Mavs called you up for a 10-day.’ My agent knew before everybody, but when he called me, I was asleep. It was cool.”

A Mavericks representative confirmed to Newsday that Warney will sign his 10-day deal Sunday morning to start the clock ticking. The Mavs will face the Houston Rockets that night at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The Mavs will play five games during Warney’s 10-day contract, including stops Tuesday at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks and Saturday at Barclays Center against the Nets. Asked what it would mean to play near where he went to school and his hometown of Plainfield, New Jersey, Warney said, “It would mean a lot to me, but everything will be big for me. The game [Friday] in Toronto will be a big game for me.

“Every game I suit up for our team, I’m out here proving myself. I’m going to be the best teammate I can be on the court, and with spot time, I’m going to show the team I’m valuable.”

When he graduated from Stony Brook two years ago, Warney bypassed opportunities to play in Europe because he believed it was better to go to training camp with the Mavs in 2016 and stay in the G League, where he is averaging 19.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He also has excelled for USA Basketball under Jeff Van Gundy, earning MVP honors in the AmeriCup Tournament last summer and helping the men’s national team win the gold medal.

“I played well all season,” Warney said. “I feel like I’m one of the best players in the league. I definitely improved off of last year. I’m making my jump shot more often now and I’m playing on the perimeter. I guess teams are seeing I can play that four spot.’’

Warney developed outstanding low-post moves in college, but at 6-7, 259 pounds, he is undersized for an NBA center. He has worked hard to extend his shooting range and is growing more comfortable.

“It’s helped me expand my game,” Warney said. “I mean, [defenders] are closing out more on me now, and my teammates are open. It shows my full game.

“No one knows when they’re going to get called up, but I’m ready for it . . . I feel like I put myself in a great position. I’m definitely happy, and now we’ve got to go up from here.”

Warney has some familiarity with coach Rick Carlisle and with the Mavericks’ schemes from the time he spent with them in training camp, and he knows some of their players.

“It’ll be fun just playing on that team and finally getting my shot,” Warney said. “It’s going to start something brand-new, and hopefully something good happens.”

By Greg Logan

Gregory.Logan@newsday.comGregLogan1

Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.