Jalen Green's Return Has Suns Buzzing — Here's What to Expect

Jalen Green is back for the Suns after missing the past 33 games.

Nov 6, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) as he celebrates with teammates against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

PHOENIX -- "Let's get it man. It's time."

These were the words of Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker after last night's win over the Brooklyn Nets looking ahead to Jalen Green making his long-awaited return from injury tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Now, the Suns announced that Green is officially available versus Philadelphia after missing the last 33 games with a right hamstring strain.

Like a lot of fans and everyone else on the team, Booker has expressed that he could not wait much longer for Green to get back, as it will take a lot of pressure off him specifically on offense.

"We miss Jalen," Booker said after Phoenix's win over the New York Knicks Saturday (via The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin). "He's another person out there that'll have rim presence for us and draw a lot of fouls.

He added on Green: "He's been licking his chops getting ready for this moment. I think we've overdone it with keeping him out. He's going to be healthy and strong and ready to go."

Suns Ready for Jalen Green's Debut

The Suns elected to keep Green despite his positional overlap with Booker and past inconsistencies after acquiring him as part of the Kevin Durant trade in the offseason because they believe in his potential at only 23 years old.

However, things have not gone to plan since with this injury that has held Green out for all but one full game this season after he had previously not missed a game since Feb. 2023 before joining the Suns.

Suns coach Jordan Ott has gotten the most out of almost every player, and the team as a whole is far exceeding expectations with a 26-17 record, which has only added to the anticipation of what Green's explosiveness can add on both sides of the ball.

Ott will have to face a challenge in trying to integrate and coach Green on the fly.

"I think there is going to be some of that," Ott said of Green ahead of last night's win over the Brooklyn Nets (via Rankin). "I think that's with anyone that comes back from any injury, especially this long, or you add a player at this time of the year. We know who he is. He knows what we want to do.

"We're a top-five defense. That's where it's going to start. Offensively, we need his speed. We need his speed, his playmaking, his downhill ability."

What to Expect From Jalen Green

In the one game Green did play in this season, he scored a game-high 29 points in only 23 minutes to lead the Suns to a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 6.

A lot of Ott's offensive system was set to be built around Green's downhill driving ability and shot creation, but the Suns don't have the personnel to fully utilize this style of play without Green.

Still, the Suns have had one of the best guard rotations in the NBA with everyone stepping up without Green, which bears the question of just how more the Suns can unlock with Green's skillset.

Ott has said Green will be starting when he returns, so the Suns will have to do a little bit of shuffling around with their rotations after having a pretty set starting five of Collin Gillespie, Booker, Dillon Brooks, Royce O'Neale and Mark Williams the past few weeks.

Green will likely be the first starter who comes out and could playing limited minutes for some time, so expect the Suns to try to stagger him and Booker's time on the court so that one of them is in at all times with Green mostly leading the bench unit.

The Suns will learn a lot about their team and what exactly their potential is in these first few weeks Green is in the lineup as they are already underway with the back half of their schedule.