Jalen Green Set for Suns Debut Against Clippers
PHOENIX – The final component of the significant Kevin Durant trade from the NBA offseason is poised to come together for the Phoenix Suns as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Clippers this Thursday.
Jalen Green, a 23-year-old guard who has an average of 20.1 points per game over his four years with the Houston Rockets, is anticipated to make his debut with the Suns after recovering from a right hamstring strain that kept him out of the entire preseason and the initial eight games of the regular season.
Green was part of the trade during the 2025 offseason that brought future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant to Houston. The Suns acquired him along with Dillon Brooks and the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft, which they used to select Khaman Maluach.
Though he’s new to Phoenix and has yet to take the court in a Suns uniform, Green expressed that he feels at home with the team and has already formed strong connections both on and off the court. “Getting to know everyone was quick, and we all share the same goals and mindset,” he said. “From coaching to the front office, it’s all been great.”
Green has been officially activated for Thursday’s matchup and is expected to start alongside point guard Devin Booker, taking on shared responsibilities for ball-handling and offense, roles which have predominantly been managed by Collin Gillespie off the bench this season. “We want to play at a fast pace, which requires multiple ball handlers,” said Suns coach Jordan Ott.
Alongside his offensive capabilities, the Suns’ front office is optimistic that Green’s presence will bolster the team’s overall pace of play. General Manager Brian Gregory noted, “With Green’s exceptional ability to attack and drive to the basket, I believe the potential for him and Booker to collaborate in the backcourt will enhance movement and create more opportunities.”
Currently at 3-5 following a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the Suns hope that a healthy Green will turn the tide for the team.
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
