In the Green: Jalen Green Shines in Suns’ Debut

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.”