Currently, it feels as if the Phoenix Suns barely exist. The NBA offseason is in dead silence, and the NFL is about to kick off in less than 20 days. That’s part of the anticipation for the NBA season—you almost forget about it, and then, when Media Day hits in late September, the excitement comes rushing back. For fans, it can be a nice break from the chaos, but for the players, the chaos of the NBA never really stops.
Jalen Green of the Phoenix Suns has a lot to prove this season, and the wait for
action has to be grueling—because in the NBA, anything can happen when it comes to trades.
A player like Green not only has something to prove but also has to get that chance before something changes—like a trade to the Atlanta Hawks for star guard Trae Young. That rumor has now surfaced, yet another wrench thrown into Green’s young career that could derail things quickly.
If you’re Green, when do things start to feel like they’re slipping too far out of your control?
The Suns’ front office reportedly had plans for him to start alongside Devin Booker at point guard, but just like that, he’s back in trade talks.
This can be a crushing blow for a player determined to show that the Houston Rockets made a mistake trading him away after last season’s first-round playoff exit. If we can’t even get to tip-off with Green still in a Suns jersey—and instead he’s sent to the Hawks or somewhere else—sure, good luck to him. But it would also be deeply discouraging.
A player with as much passion as Green can turn rejection from a team into motivation to rise to the occasion on game night. But there’s also the risk he could fall into a pit of despair, mourning the loss of having a team fully back him as “the guy.”
The NBA can quickly take control of your career, and when you mix in the negative influence of social media and the constant chatter from talking heads on ESPN, one bad playoff series can change everything.
I’m not saying Green’s career is over, but it’s already taken turns he probably didn’t want—like getting traded to Phoenix in the first place. He’s accepted that fate and seems ready to prove the doubters wrong as a Sun. But now? The Suns might trade him again.
In the NBA, respect is something that must be earned, but it can also be taken away before a player even gets the chance to prove himself.
With Green already caught up in trade rumors, the question is: can he block out the noise and stay locked in, or will it derail his motivation to remain in Phoenix?
