After re-injuring his right hamstring in his second game back, Suns guard Jalen Green will be reevaluated in four-to-six weeks, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Charania’s report lines up with the timeline first projected by Suns insider John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Twitter link). Even if Green is able to return in four weeks, he’ll still miss the team’s next 13 games.
The hamstring has been an ongoing problem this fall for Green, who initially suffered a strain early in training camp, then aggravated it during his ramp-up process in mid-October. The 23-year-old sat out the first eight games of the regular season, played 23 minutes in his return last Thursday, then exited Saturday’s game after just seven minutes of action when he aggravated the injury again.
Green reportedly felt a sharp pain after passing the ball to Ryan Dunn for a corner three-point shot late in the first quarter on Saturday. He hobbled toward the team’s bench while grabbing at the hamstring and had to be helped off the court by two staff members. He was declared out for the game shortly afterward, with reporting at the time indicating he’d undergo medical imaging to assess the severity of the injury.
Green spent the first four years of his NBA career in Houston before being sent to Phoenix along with Dillon Brooks in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade over the summer. Injuries were rarely an issue for the former No. 2 overall pick during his time as a Rocket — he appeared in all 82 regular season games in each of the past two seasons and hadn’t missed a game since February 2023.
While Green’s extended absence will prevent the Suns from getting a longer look at how he fits alongside Devin Booker until later in the season, the team has outperformed expectations in the early going even without having the former Rocket available. Phoenix has won five of its last six games to improve its record to 6-5.
Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale are logging big minutes on the wing in Green’s absence, with guards Dunn (24.4 minutes per game), Collin Gillespie (23.9 MPG) and Jordan Goodwin (14.9 MPG) all playing regular rotation roles as well.
Why you never try to come back from a hamstring injury early.
Guess he came back too soon
At least 4-6 weeks really means at least 6 weeks and at that point might as well make it 8 weeks and be completely healed. See you in early/ mid January Jalen.
Last time Book had an elite pg he took Phx to the Finals. Let’s get this man a true pg & quit wasting his prime…
Suns trade- Jalen Green, Nick Richards & a future 1st
Hawks trade- Trae Young