Devin Booker Comments on Jalen Green's Successful Return for the Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns took another step forward Tuesday night, grinding out a 116-110 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers while welcoming back a key piece that had been missing for months. Jalen Green logged his first NBA minutes since early November, easing back into action after a lingering right hamstring issue that stalled his start with Phoenix, according to ESPN. Green finished with 12 points in 20 minutes off the bench, marking a controlled return after nearly two months on the sideline. The Suns improved to 27-17 with the win, extending their recent surge and moving 10 games over .500 for the first time since the 2023-24 season. For Phoenix, the night was not about box score dominance. It was about reintegration, pacing, and getting another weapon back into a rotation that has already exceeded preseason expectations. Booker Embraces Green’s Long-Awaited Return After the game, Suns star Devin Booker did not hide his excitement about seeing Green back on the floor. Booker pointed to the work Green put in behind the scenes and how that effort translated immediately. “Man, I’m excited for him,” Booker said. “He’s been with us through the whole process. We’ve been watching him grind. He looked good to me. He’s fast. He can make plays for other people and he gives us another presence in the paint. The speed is there.” Green showed flashes of that speed early, scoring seven points in nine first-half minutes before finishing 4-for-11 from the field, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. He added three assists and two rebounds, all while operating within a minutes restriction designed to protect his conditioning. The return carried extra significance given the expectations that followed Green to Phoenix. The Suns acquired him in the offseason trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston, and his explosive debut on Nov. 6, when he scored 29 points in 23 minutes, only heightened anticipation before the injury setback. Suns Managing Minutes as Rotation Questions Linger Despite earlier indications that Green would slide back into the starting lineup upon returning, Suns coach Jordan Ott opted for a cautious approach. Green’s appearance off the bench marked the first time in his NBA career that he did not start, after opening all 309 of his regular-season games and seven playoff contests prior to Tuesday. Ott explained the decision came down to conditioning and rhythm rather than role, AZ Central reports. “It’s just the time off,” Ott said. “He’s played five quarters. There’s a range of minutes that we’re going to shoot for and it’s the conditioning piece. Playing shorter stints. He’s in a good spot, ready to go.” When asked whether the Suns would stick with their current starting five of Booker, Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, and Mark Williams, Ott offered little clarity, saying lineup decisions would reveal themselves in time. Phoenix’s ability to thrive during Green’s absence has softened the urgency. The Suns have climbed into the Western Conference playoff mix, winning three straight and positioning themselves as a legitimate top-six threat. Green’s gradual return only adds another layer of intrigue as the team looks to build momentum. The Suns conclude their six-game road trip on Jan. 23 in Atlanta, with Green expected to see his workload increase as his conditioning improves and his role within the rotation sharpens.