When Devin Booker went down with a nasty ankle injury on January 23rd against the Atlanta Hawks, the initial reaction was one of concern - and understandably so. He turned his ankle awkwardly on Onyeka Okongwu’s foot while defending, and it looked like the kind of twist that could keep a player out for weeks, if not longer.
Before the game:
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 11, 2026
"When you've been out that long, it's something we're super mindful of."
Jordan Ott on Jalen Green when asked about the right hamstring injury in relation to the possibility of him playing the 2nd of a back-to-back Wednesday vs. OKC.
"It's why we'll stick to… pic.twitter.com/FRrmHWAguo
But in classic Booker fashion, he bounced back quicker than expected. After missing seven games, he returned to the lineup on February 7th in a tough loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Since his return, Booker has logged 32 minutes in each of his two games - a clear sign that the Suns aren’t easing him back in with kid gloves. He’s not quite in full rhythm yet, but Phoenix doesn’t have the luxury of waiting. With Jalen Green still working his way back from nagging hamstring issues and Grayson Allen now set for a post-All-Star break re-evaluation due to a knee injury, the Suns need Booker on the floor - even if he’s still shaking off the rust.
His status for tomorrow night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder is still up in the air. It’s the second night of a back-to-back following the Suns’ 120-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks, and that kind of quick turnaround is always tricky - especially for a player fresh off an ankle sprain.
Head coach Jordan Ott acknowledged the challenge, saying before the win over Dallas, “He’s coming off a major ankle injury and he sped up his recovery to come out and play. Now that thing is hard on back-to-back nights.
Check in with all of our guys. Back-to-backs are hard around the league.”
Ott’s comments reflect a broader reality around the NBA: back-to-backs are brutal, even for healthy players. For someone like Booker, who just pushed through rehab to get back on the court, the decision to play on consecutive nights isn’t just about pain tolerance - it’s about protecting the long-term health of one of the team’s most vital pieces.
The silver lining here? Booker’s injury wasn’t soft tissue-related, which means it’s less likely to linger or flare up unexpectedly - a big contrast to Green’s situation, where hamstrings can be notoriously tricky and prone to setbacks.
With the All-Star break looming, the Suns are expected to be cautious. There’s no need to gamble with the health of their stars, especially with postseason aspirations still very much in play.
Booker’s back - and while he’s not yet at full throttle, his presence alone changes the dynamic for Phoenix. The priority now is making sure he stays on the floor when it matters most.