Suns' Jalen Green Admits Lacking 'Trust' After Injuries

The young guard has played just six games this season due to a right hamstring injury.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 7:39pm

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Phoenix Suns forward Jalen Green, who was acquired from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade, has played just six games this season due to a right hamstring injury. Green, 24, says it's been "hard" being sidelined for most of the year and that he's still lacking "trust" in his body after the multiple setbacks. The Suns have a plan to get Green healthy during the All-Star break, with coach Jordan Ott saying they'll evaluate his return to the starting lineup after that.

Why it matters

Jalen Green was expected to be a key piece for the Suns this season after the Durant trade, but his extended absence due to the hamstring injury has been a setback for the team. The Suns are hoping to get Green back to full strength for the final stretch of the regular season as they push for a playoff spot.

The details

Green first strained his hamstring during training camp and has either reinjured or tweaked it three times since. He also took a hard fall on January 30th against the Cavaliers that sidelined him for three more games. In his return on Saturday against the 76ers, Green scored 8 points in 17 minutes, but admitted he was still "a little cautious" and "hesitant" at times due to thinking about the injury.

  • Green first strained his hamstring during training camp.
  • Green reinjured or tweaked the hamstring three times since the initial strain.
  • On January 30th, Green took a hard fall against the Cavaliers that sidelined him for three games.
  • Green returned to action on Saturday, February 4th, against the 76ers.

The players

Jalen Green

A 24-year-old guard for the Phoenix Suns who was acquired from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade. Green is averaging a career-low 11 points per game this season due to the hamstring injury.

Jordan Ott

The head coach of the Phoenix Suns, who says the team has a plan to get Green healthy during the All-Star break.

Ryan Dunn

A teammate of Jalen Green on the Phoenix Suns.

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What they’re saying

“It's been hard. It's the most games I've missed in my life. The most time I've spent away from basketball while still working out and everything. Just not being able to play is hard for me. That's where I find a lot of my joy. Being out there on the floor and getting involved with the crowd and everything about it. It's been a little difficult.”

— Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns Guard (azcentral.com)

“There's still some trust factor in trusting everything, but that's going to come with time. Playing and being unconscious and forgetting about injuries.”

— Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns Guard (azcentral.com)

“It starts with the minutes. Once that competitive range goes up and he feels good with his conditioning piece, we'll all be in a much better spot. Him coming back before the All-Star break obviously helped. He'll maintain that throughout the All-Star break. We definitely have a plan for him in the All-Star break and then we'll see where everything is post All-Star.”

— Jordan Ott, Phoenix Suns Head Coach (azcentral.com)

What’s next

The Suns have two more games before the All-Star break against the Mavericks and Thunder, and they have a plan to get Green healthy during the break. His status for the first game after the break against the Spurs will depend on how he progresses.

The takeaway

Jalen Green's extended absence due to a nagging hamstring injury has been a major setback for the Suns this season. The team is hopeful they can get Green back to full strength during the All-Star break so he can contribute down the stretch as they push for a playoff spot.