Suns Hit Hard by Injuries to Booker and Green: “You Feel for Them,” Says Coach Ott
PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns walked away from Atlanta with more than just a loss in the standings - they left with a gut punch to their season’s momentum. Head coach Jordan Ott confirmed what fans feared: Devin Booker is dealing with a right ankle injury, and Jalen Green is back on the injury watch list with hamstring concerns.
Booker exited the locker room on crutches, a visual that said more than any stat line ever could. Ott called the injury “unlucky,” but his tone carried more than frustration - it carried the weight of a season teetering on the edge. For a team that’s spent the better part of the year trying to get its full roster healthy and in sync, this setback stings.
“You feel for them,” Ott said postgame, acknowledging not just the physical toll, but the emotional one.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about missing points on the scoreboard. It’s about timing, chemistry, and the razor-thin margin Phoenix has been walking all season. The Suns' system - built on crisp spacing, shared ball-handling duties, and trust on both ends of the floor - doesn’t operate well when key cogs are missing.
Booker isn’t just the team’s leading scorer. He’s their tone-setter, their emotional anchor.
When he limps off the court, the ripple effect hits everything from offensive flow to locker room morale. Ott’s comments echoed what fans already know deep down - this team had just started to look like the version everyone envisioned.
And now, it’s back to the drawing board.
As for Jalen Green, Ott didn’t offer a concrete timeline, but acknowledged the complications that can come with a hamstring injury, especially when returning from one. There’s always the risk of aggravation, and the Suns know all too well how quickly momentum can shift.
Ott’s visible frustration wasn’t just a coach reacting to bad luck - it was a window into the pressure cooker Phoenix is operating in right now. This is a team that doesn’t have the luxury of easing into form.
Every game, every possession matters. And when two of your top three offensive weapons go down in one night, it doesn’t just change your rotation - it changes your identity.
For Suns fans, this hits deeper than standings or playoff positioning. It’s about watching a team that’s tried to do things the right way - building chemistry, staying patient, trusting the process - get blindsided by injuries at the worst possible time.
The road ahead just got tougher. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Suns have been here before.
They’ve weathered injuries, lineup shuffles, and adversity all season. The question now isn’t just when Booker and Green will return - it’s how the rest of the roster responds in their absence.
Because if this team is going to stay in the fight, it’ll need more than just scoring. It’ll need resilience.