Suns' Season-Opening Win Highlighted Jalen Green's Importance

The Phoenix Suns won their season-opener behind big performances from Devin Booker, who had 31 points, and forward Dillon Brooks, who had 22.

Phoenix is looking to build a new culture and identity and will need short-term contributions from their entire supporting cast on offense to win games.

Jalen Green, who led the No. 2 seed in the West, the Houston Rockets, in scoring at 22.0 points per game, is yet to appear with the Suns.

Green's scoring is going to be key if Phoenix will keep pace with the top teams in the West and try to advance to the NBA playoffs.

Not many writers feel that the former No. 2 overall pick can mesh with Booker in the backcourt. Much like the fit with Bradley Beal, Green and Booker are each go-to scorers with intentions to find their teammates secondly. Green will look to prove he can emerge toward his superstar aspirations next to Booker, who is regarded as one of the top two players at the shooting guard spot.

Green is an elite athlete who has a special ability to take over games, even at 22 years old. The Suns may not be able to sustain offensive performances like they had versus the Sacramento Kings, who were without their top star Domantas Sabonis.

Green, Brooks and the Rockets were a formidable foe in the NBA. Both players contributed to a first-round series against the Warriors that could have went their way. Had Houston advanced in that series, it is very possible they could've made a run toward the Western Conference championship.

Regardless, Green's on-court impact to this point is unquestionable.

“He did a great job on the China trip, hanging in there with us," Suns coach Jordan Ott said. "Now we’re just doubling down on all those things; film, anything that you can do, and then he’ll be right back at it.

“Because he is a resilient athlete, and he tends to bounce back. This is just another step, and then he’ll bounce back.”

Green's on-court value will show once he returns for the Suns. He is expected to return sooner rather than later, perhaps during the team's upcoming road trip.

"I think it starts with both of us with the ability to score, and once you become a threat in that regard, it's going to open up easier opportunities for everybody else," said Booker at the team's Media Day.

"I think overall, playing with a faster pace and getting up the court, we call it kicking heads or skips. It doesn't really matter."

Added Green: "I think we gonna be playing fast, and I think we gonna be creating a lot for each other and create for others. So I'm very excited about it, and I think we gonna shock a lot of people too."