Mike Warren (basketball)

Mike Warren (basketball)
Name	Mike Warren
Position	Point guard
Weight lb	175
Birth date	8 April 1987
Birth place	Detroit, Michigan
Nationality	American
College	Michigan (2005–2009)
Draft year	2009
Career start	2009
Career end	2016
Years1	2009–2011
Team1	Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Years2	2011–2013
Team2	Lietuvos rytas
Years3	2013–2014
Team3	EWE Baskets Oldenburg
Years4	2014–2016
Team4	BC Kalev/Cramo

Mike Warren (basketball)

Michael Jerome Warren (born April 8, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. A point guard known for playmaking and perimeter defense, he starred at Cass Technical High School in Detroit before playing collegiately at the University of Michigan, then enjoyed a seven-year professional career in the NBA G League and European leagues. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching and community basketball development in Michigan.

Early life and high school

Warren was born in Detroit and raised in the Brightmoor neighborhood, the son of Janice Warren and Jerome Warren. He attended Cass Technical High School, where he played under coach DA Hughes and emerged as a standout alongside teammates who later matriculated to programs such as Syracuse, North Carolina, and Purdue. As a junior he led Cass Tech to the Michigan High School Athletic Association district finals and posted averages that attracted scouts from ESPN, Rivals.com, and Scout.com. In his senior year he earned All-State honors, participated in the McDonald's All-American selection process, and received scholarship offers from programs including Michigan State, Indiana, and Pittsburgh before committing to Michigan.

College career

At the University of Michigan, Warren joined the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team in 2005 under head coach Tommy Amaker. He redshirted his true freshman year with a shoulder injury, then became a regular rotation guard during the 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season and the 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Warren's sophomore and junior seasons coincided with the arrival of guards such as Daniel Horton and Lester Abram, and he contributed in Big Ten Conference games against programs like Ohio State, Illinois, and Purdue. In his senior year (2008–09) under coach John Beilein, Warren averaged career highs in assists and steals, leading the Wolverines in backcourt minutes and helping Michigan to the 2009 National Invitation Tournament appearance. He finished his college career ranked among Michigan's top ten single-season assist totals and earned recognition from outlets such as The Sporting News and CBS Sports for his defensive impact.

Professional career

Undrafted in the 2009 NBA draft, Warren joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League (now NBA G League) for the 2009–10 season. With the Vipers he played alongside prospects targeted by franchises including the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs, recording notable performances in games against teams like the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and the Iowa Energy. In 2011 he signed his first overseas contract with Lietuvos rytas of the Lithuanian Basketball League, competing in the EuroCup and facing clubs such as BC Khimki, Unics Kazan, and AZS Koszalin. After two seasons in Vilnius he moved to EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the Basketball Bundesliga, where he faced opponents including Bayern Munich and ALBA Berlin and contributed to Oldenburg's domestic cup runs.

In 2014 Warren joined BC Kalev/Cramo and competed in the VTB United League and the Estonian Korvpalli Meistriliiga, playing games against CSKA Moscow and regional rivals such as Tartu Ülikool. Across his European career he accumulated assists and defensive metrics that made him a valued veteran guard, signing short-term contracts with teams emphasizing transition offense and perimeter defense. He announced his retirement from professional play in 2016 and subsequently accepted player-development and assistant coaching roles with minor-league and youth programs in Detroit.

Playing style and statistics

Warren was a 6 ft 1 in point guard known for ball distribution, perimeter defense, and steady decision-making in late-clock situations. At Michigan he averaged approximately 9–11 points, 4–6 assists, and 1.5–2.0 steals per 40 minutes in his peak seasons, excelling in backcourt matchups versus guards from Ohio State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. In the NBA G League his assist rate ranked among team leaders, and in the EuroCup his turnover-to-assist ratio improved due to emphasis on halfcourt sets under coaches influenced by European basketball tactics linked to staffs from clubs like Zalgiris Kaunas and Real Madrid Baloncesto. Defensively he was frequently assigned to disrupt opposing primary ball-handlers and accumulated charges and deflections in contests against ball-dominant guards from Turkey, Russia, and Poland.

Personal life and post-playing career

Following retirement Warren returned to Detroit and earned certifications through organizations such as the National Basketball Coaches Association and USA Basketball coaching pathway programs. He has worked in community outreach with groups including Boys & Girls Clubs of America chapters in Michigan, partnered with Detroit PAL for youth clinics, and run summer camps featuring curriculum modeled on systems used by John Beilein and international coaching figures like Ettore Messina. Warren has served as an assistant coach at Wayne State University and as director of player development for a Pro-Am league in Detroit, mentoring prospects aiming for scholarships with programs such as Central Michigan University, Oakland University, and Western Michigan University. He is married to Alicia Warren and they have two children.

Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Point guards Category:Michigan Wolverines men's basketball players Category:Sportspeople from Detroit