Suns' Jalen Green Unlocking Full Potential, But Hamstring Lingers

The young star is becoming a more well-rounded scorer, but his previous athleticism has taken a hit.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:39pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting Jalen Green's dynamic scoring moves, with sharp geometric planes in the Suns' team colors of orange, purple, and teal, conceptually representing his transition to a more well-rounded offensive game.Jalen Green's evolving scoring prowess is a key factor in the Suns' playoff push, even as he adjusts to playing with less explosiveness.Houston Today

Jalen Green has been on a tear for the Phoenix Suns lately, averaging 22.8 points per game over the last 14 games. His scoring efficiency has improved, with strong numbers in areas like catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, pull-up 2s, and finishing at the rim. However, Green has acknowledged that his previous explosiveness and ability to dunk has been affected by a nagging hamstring injury he's been dealing with this season.

Why it matters

Green's development into a more well-rounded scorer is crucial for the Suns as they push for the playoffs. While he may have lost some of his elite athleticism, his improved shooting and playmaking could make him an even more dangerous offensive threat. The team will need Green at his best if they hope to make a deep postseason run.

The details

Since Devin Booker's return to the lineup, Green has been putting up impressive numbers, including averages of 22.8 points, 3.8 free throws per game, 39.6% on 53 catch-and-shoot 3s, 13.5 drives, and 3.0 blow-bys per game. His efficiency on pull-up 2s (54% on 50 attempts) and at the rim (55.7% Inside 10 feet, 63% on 68 rim field goals) has also been a bright spot. However, Green has acknowledged that his jumping ability and dunking prowess have been affected by the hamstring injury, with some of his dunk attempts getting blocked.

  • Over the last 14 games, Green has been on a tear for the Suns.
  • Green scored 31 points in 22 minutes in a recent win against the Utah Jazz.

The players

Jalen Green

A young star player for the Phoenix Suns who has been battling a nagging hamstring injury but is starting to unlock his full offensive potential.

Devin Booker

The Suns' star player who has recently returned to the lineup after an injury, helping to take some of the scoring burden off of Green.

Jordan Ott

The head coach of the Phoenix Suns, who has emphasized a defense-to-offense mentality that fits well with Green's skillset.

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What they’re saying

“I feel good. Very blessed and happy to be able to get back out there without any problems... as far as my jumping, I feel like I used to be a little more bouncier. I had a couple of attempts at dunking that got blocked. But some days I wake up, and the bounce is there, so I'm gonna take that.”

— Jalen Green, Suns Player

“Just his intent, offensively, but he can put a lot of pressure on the rim, especially, again, a lot of that's defensive coverage-based. But when we can get the five-man on the perimeter, like we were able to tonight, then he was able to drive it. I thought really in that second half, when it was coming out of halftime, kind of up in the air, and then he put his just imprint all over this game.”

— Jordan Ott, Suns Head Coach

What’s next

With eight games remaining in the regular season, Green will look to carry his strong play into the play-in tournament as the Suns push for the playoffs. The team will hope to get key players like Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks back before the postseason begins.

The takeaway

Jalen Green's development into a more well-rounded scorer has been a bright spot for the Suns, even if his previous elite athleticism has been somewhat diminished by a lingering hamstring injury. His improved shooting and playmaking could make him an even more dangerous offensive threat, which the Suns will need as they aim for a deep playoff run.