Jalen Green made his Phoenix Suns debut on Thursday night, and boy, did he not disappoint.
Green played 23 minutes, scored 29 points, and hit six three-pointers, setting the franchise record for most made in a Suns debut. He knifed through the defense, exploded to the rim, got teammates involved, and drilled tough shots all while on a minutes restriction.
Final line: 29 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 10-20 FG, 6-13 3PFG, 3-5 FT, +30.
The chemistry between not only him and Booker,
but also him and the entire team seemed to be on point. Green said before the injury that he and Book had “a vibe” together on and off the court.
Instant Impact
Green’s impact was immediate.
He scored his first basket about two minutes into the game, forcing the tempo off a drop coverage against Ivica Zubac and turning the corner with authority. With the ball screen coming from Mark Williams, the Suns leaned into a two-man game that allowed Green to operate with space. When he has a runway, he looks dangerous—really dangerous. We already knew that, but seeing it in action fresh off a hamstring injury was encouraging.
Jalen Green and Devin Booker shared the floor seamlessly. It was like they’ve always been teammates. Booker added 24 points, stayed patient, and let Green carry the momentum when needed. The combination looked natural: an athletic shot-creator next to an elite scorer doing what elite duos do. The real test will be whether they can sustain that rhythm as the season progresses. There will inevitably be growing pains, as even the best duos in the world face them. How will they respond to any adversity that hits? That’s the next test.
Offensively, this game hinted at what the Suns are trying to become. A team that shares the ball, whips it around, and will either let one of their two bucket-getters punish you, and if the defense overcommits, they will find the open man for a clean look. The team still had rough patches with turnovers and rhythm issues, but when Green attacked, teammates got rewarded.
He pulled defenders out, hit cutters, and opened up lanes that weren’t there before. That complementary action is precisely the next phase of growth Phoenix has been searching for. And Dillon Brooks might be joining his old running mate soon… tonight perhaps?
Consistency
Consistency is the key. Green has shown brilliance in bursts throughout his career, averaging 21 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists last season with several “high highs” and “low lows”. Especially in the playoffs.
His talent has never been questioned, but his ability to sustain that level night after night has. The debut answered a lot of “can he?” questions. The new question is “will he continue to?” Rockets fans have sent the warning label our way all over social media. How concerned should we be about their warnings?
Green’s scoring naturally pulls defenses his way, opening up clean looks for everyone around him. If the Suns can keep flying around on defense and stay in rhythm offensively, they’ll put themselves right in the middle of the playoff mix.
Coming off an injury, Green will have to ease his way back into full speed, but what he showed in his debut was more than just a spark. It felt like proof that he’s ready to take the next step, not just as a scorer, but as a real difference-maker on both ends. Playing alongside a professional scorer like Devin Booker will make his life easier.
If Phoenix can build on that energy, this season could be the beginning of something special in the Valley rather than a blip on the radar.
