Jalen Green Opens Up About Injury Struggles, Emotions, and the Road Ahead with the Suns
PHOENIX - After Monday’s practice, Jalen Green didn’t just speak - he let us in. The Phoenix Suns guard, still working his way back from a frustrating string of injuries, opened up about the emotional toll of being sidelined, the challenge of limited minutes, and how deeply the game of basketball is woven into who he is.
“It’s been hard… just not being able to play is hard for me,” Green said, his voice carrying the weight of a player who’s not just rehabbing a hamstring - but reconnecting with the part of himself that only comes alive on the court.
For Green, basketball isn’t just a job. It’s joy.
It’s identity. And being away from it has clearly taken a toll.
This season has been anything but smooth for the 22-year-old guard, who arrived in Phoenix as part of a headline-grabbing trade designed to inject youth, speed, and scoring punch into a team looking to extend its championship window. The plan was to pair Green’s explosive athleticism and downhill scoring with Devin Booker’s elite shot-making - a backcourt built to stretch defenses and timelines alike.
But hamstring issues have kept that vision on pause. Green has missed significant time, and even when he’s been available, he’s been on a minutes restriction as the Suns tread carefully with his recovery.
Still, this isn’t a story about setbacks - it’s about resilience. Green’s emotional comments weren’t about frustration with playing time or missed opportunities.
They were about love for the game. About a young star who knows the value of what he brings and is aching to contribute again.
And that matters.
Because for all the talk about schemes, rotations, and trade value, what fans connect with most is passion. Green’s willingness to share what he’s going through - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally - gives Suns fans a reason to rally behind him. He’s not just trying to get back on the floor; he’s trying to reclaim his rhythm, his role, and his impact on a team that still believes in what he can become.
The Suns didn’t bring Green in to be the finished product. This was always about potential - about giving Booker a dynamic partner who could grow alongside him and eventually help carry the load.
Soft-tissue injuries are frustrating, sure, but they’re also recoverable. What matters more is how a player responds.
And in Green’s case, the response is clear: he cares. Deeply.
That kind of emotional investment doesn’t show up in the box score, but it’s the kind of thing that can galvanize a locker room - and a fan base.
The Suns are still figuring things out this season, and Green’s return to full strength could be a major piece of that puzzle. His speed, his slashing ability, his ability to put pressure on defenses - all of that is still in play. But just as important is the fire that’s clearly still burning inside him.
There’s no timeline on emotions. But if Jalen Green’s words are any indication, the Suns have a player who’s not just working his way back - he’s fighting for the chance to make this team his own.