Jalen Green in 'Good Place' for Suns After Team-High 26 Points in Loss, Says GM
Jalen Green is described by the Suns' general manager as being "in a good place" heading into the final stretch of the season, a timely assessment after Green delivered a team-high 26 points in a post–All-Star break contest. The dual developments — improved availability and a big scoring night — matter for Phoenix as it navigates a tight playoff picture and ongoing injury management.
Jalen Green's recent minutes, injuries and GM assessment
Green logged his most minutes in a two-game span since joining Phoenix before missing the final game before the All-Star break for injury management. Over those two contests he averaged 10 points and 3. 5 assists, numbers that the team noted are below his expected output when fully healthy but represented progress in a stop-and-start recovery timeline.
The team laid out a sequence of setbacks that affected Green's availability: an initial hamstring issue that was re-aggravated in preseason training camp, a subsequent re-aggravation in his second game wearing a Suns uniform, a 2. 5-month absence, another re-aggravation on return, and then a hip contusion after a hard fall on his third return. Both the hip and hamstring were listed ahead of his next return, while the final missed game before the break listed only the hamstring.
General manager Brian Gregory emphasized the nonlinear nature of soft-tissue recoveries and framed Green's work ethic and engagement with coaches as positive signs. Gregory called Green young with a bright future and said the timing of the All-Star break, paired with the recent minutes logged, put Green "in a good place heading into the last 27 games. " The GM also praised how Green stayed involved while off the court.
26-point night and on-court pairing with Devin Booker
In the Suns' first game back, Green led Phoenix with 26 points in a 121-94 loss to San Antonio. His line that night showed 11-23 from the field, 4-9 from three, no free throws, three rebounds, two assists and three steals. That total was the second-highest scoring game of his season and came in his third start, a small sample in which he is averaging 19. 0 points.
Green has been limited to eight games this season. The game in San Antonio also featured Devin Booker exiting early with an injury; the two have shared the court for 59 minutes this season and posted a net rating of +20 in that span. Among more than 130 two-man Phoenix pairings with at least that many minutes together, only two have a better net rating. While the sample size is modest, team leadership expressed confidence in how the backcourt profile looks and in the longer-term potential of the pairing.
Immediate outlook for Green and the Suns
Phoenix returned from the break to face the Spurs on Thursday, and the club sits in a position where seeding and Play-In implications are in play: the Suns are No. 7, separated by 1. 5 games from No. 6 and holding roughly a three-game cushion over No. 8. The team has other availability questions to monitor — a teammate left a recent game with a left hand injury, and Devin Booker is set for a re-evaluation in one week while another rotation player will be re-evaluated on a two-to-three-week timeline — underscoring the importance of Green's health and capacity to contribute.
For now, the combination of Green's extended but advancing recovery, a strong scoring night, and encouraging two-man metrics with Booker give Phoenix a clearer read on what the backcourt can produce when both are available. Recent updates indicate Green's status has improved, but details may continue to evolve as the team manages minutes and further evaluations proceed.
