Jalen Green Exits Second Game Back with Hamstring Tightness, Raising Suns’ Concerns

ATLANTA (Azat TV) – Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green exited Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with precautionary right hamstring tightness, just his second appearance since missing 33 consecutive games with a persistent right hamstring injury. The setback, occurring early in the first quarter at State Farm Arena, immediately casts doubt on the 22-year-old’s ability to remain on the court and presents a significant challenge for the Suns’ postseason aspirations.

Green, who was acquired by the Suns from Houston in the Kevin Durant trade before the 2025 NBA Draft, played only four minutes in the January 23 matchup before heading to the locker room. He had scored four points, driving to the rim for a layup that cut Atlanta’s lead to one point, 23-22, with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter. Following an Atlanta timeout, Green checked out of the game, replaced by Ryan Dunn, and was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest, according to azcentral.com.

A Season Plagued by Hamstring Issues

This latest incident marks a disheartening continuation of Green’s injury-riddled season. His initial right hamstring injury occurred during training camp, followed by a re-injury during the team’s preseason tour in China, where they played two exhibition games against the Brooklyn Nets. These early setbacks forced him to miss all four preseason games and the first eight regular-season games of the current campaign.

Green eventually made his highly anticipated Suns debut on November 6, delivering an electrifying performance against the Los Angeles Clippers in Phoenix. He scored 29 points, including a franchise-record six three-pointers, leading the Suns to victory. However, the celebration was short-lived. Just two days later, in a rematch against the Clippers in Inglewood, Green reinjured the same hamstring in the first quarter and did not return to the game.

Brief Return and Lingering Questions

The subsequent 33-game absence finally ended on January 20, when Green returned to action against the Philadelphia 76ers. He played 20 minutes, scoring 12 points, and contributed to a 116-110 Suns victory. Observers noted his apparent return to form; Bright Side of the Sun described him as ‘quick, springy, confident,’ with his signature ‘burst’ evident. The Suns had given him two days between games, allowing him to participate in team practices and manage his minutes as he eased back into play.

However, the quick recurrence of tightness has ignited serious concerns within the organization and among fans. The severity of this latest setback is not yet clear, but Bright Side of the Sun articulated the growing anxiety, stating, ‘Now the real questions start creeping in… Is his season over? Is this something that leads to surgery? Do the Suns now have to revisit the trade market for help they never planned on needing because Jalen Green was supposed to be that help?’

Additional Injury Woes for the Suns

Compounding the Suns’ troubles, star guard Devin Booker also left the same game against the Hawks due to injury. Booker, who had scored 31 points, went down with 5.4 seconds left in the third quarter after seemingly rolling his right ankle on Onyeka Okongwu’s foot, as reported by Yahoo Sports. He was in visible pain and required assistance to leave the court, not returning to the game. The Hawks ultimately defeated the Suns 110-103, with strong performances from Okongwu (25 points) and Jalen Johnson (23 points, 18 rebounds).

The recurring nature of Jalen Green’s hamstring issues underscores the inherent risks in managing high-performance athletes through chronic injuries, particularly for teams with championship ambitions who rely heavily on their star players.