When the Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, they received multiple pieces of their rebuild. Dillon Brooks and rookies Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea brought promise to the Valley.
But nobody meant more than Jalen Green.
Averaging a team-high 21 points per game in Houston, Green had lofty expectations in joining four-time All-Star Devin Booker in the Purple and Orange’s backcourt. He also emerged as the team’s second star on paper after Bradley Beal left for the LA Clippers.
After missing all of preseason and the first eight games of regular season play with a strained right hamstring injury, Green made his Suns debut, scoring 29 points and logging three rebounds and assists, and a +30 rating during his 23 minutes at Mortgage Matchup Center. His team-leading effort helped the Suns move to 4-1 at home this season, beating Beal’s Clippers 115-102 on Thursday night.
“It felt good to be back,” Green said in a postgame interview with the Suns’ TV broadcast. “I was telling everybody on my team, I was like ‘I can’t even take my nap fully.’ I was so excited and anxious to get back on the floor.”
In the Green: Jalen Green Shines in Suns’ Debut
A rare return to the court
Along with his offensive play, Green’s consistency in Houston stretched to his presence. Averaging 32.9 minutes per game, he had started every regular season game over the past two years before this year’s injury.
While still on a minutes restriction, Green’s presence in the Valley was felt immediately. He provided attacks to the rim, something pseudo point guard Booker’s responsibilities to start the season, along with high arching shots over Ivica Zubac and the Clippers’ veteran interior. The fifth year player also notched six triples, the most by a Suns debutant.
“[He gave us] probably everything we expected and more,” Phoenix head coach Jordan Ott told reporters postgame. “Anytime you’re out of basketball for that long … it’s not easy. It’s not easy [with the] ups and downs and coming back from an injury, wanting to play with a new group in a new city. To be that in rhythm, that’s unique.”
A much needed backcourt combo with Booker
Averaging 31 points per game and nine free throw attempts while shooting 51.6% from the field going into Thursday night, Booker recorded career numbers to start the 2025-26 campaign.
But at what cost?
Despite his heroics, Booker was the only Sun to consistently post 20+ points after the now-sidelined Brooks reached that mark in the season’s first two games. Thus, the offense became predictable, and the bench players could not supply enough on both sides of the ball.
So, Booker’s subpar 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds in 37 minutes—the best performance behind Green’s—is a sigh of relief after earlier tribulations.
“It’s night and day,” Booker told reporters postgame when asked about Green drawing away attention. “It’s a game changer for sure. Also, the minutes I’m off the court, he’s out there holding it down, being super aggressive too. So, his dynamic helps our team.”
With Green back in the lineup and Brooks healing after his core muscle strain, the Suns could hit peak performance in the coming weeks.
A new era in Phoenix?
With these two running the backcourt, the Suns could be set to play competitive against the Western Conference’s best. They have already handed the San Antonio Spurs their first loss of the season, and defeated an albeit shorthanded but veteran Clippers side on Thursday night.
Additionally, Booker and Green’s pairing mirrors the player and mentor trend throughout the league. The Los Angeles Lakers are the most prominent example, with Luka Doncic joining LeBron James in the City of Angels. A more recent example includes Kyrie Irving guiding rookie Cooper Flagg in Dallas.
Granted, only six years separate the two guards. But their combination is similar, showcasing complimentary basketball on the court, and a vibrant culture off of it.
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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