Suns want to play ‘to the limit’ defensively. ‘You can’t call 90 fouls’
Phoenix Suns players discuss their new identity and how it impacts their mentality as the 2025-26 season begins.
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green is listed as questionable for the Wednesday, Oct. 29, game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Green has yet to play for the Suns (1-3) this season due to a right hamstring strain.
“It’s exciting,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said before Monday’s overtime road loss to the Utah Jazz about Green’s pending debut. “Over the course of the (three-game road) trip, he’s just made great progress. He’s had great workouts. Continue to get better every day. We hope it’s in the near future. He’s played against coaches and some other players. So he’s definitely getting closer.”
Ott said he was looking for Green to have multiple days of on-court participation in game-like situations before having him play in a game.
“Full court,” Ott said. “Soft tissue. Got to get up and down. Overall progress really good.”
Green initially strained his right hamstring in training camp leading up to the Oct. 3 preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers in Palm Desert. He then reaggravated it during Phoenix’s weeklong trip to China for two preseason games against the Brooklyn Nets.
Dillon Brooks is ruled out for a second straight game after missing Monday’s loss with right groin soreness. Brooks is averaging a career-high 19.3 points a game in his first year with the Suns. He was getting up shots pregame Monday.
Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson still spends offseasons in Phoenix
After spending the first 3 and a half seasons of his career with the Phoenix Suns, Nuggets’ Cam Johnson still calls the Valley his offseason home.
“It just happened in the last game (Saturday against Denver),” said Ott about Brooks. “Tried to evaluate it yesterday. Doesn’t appear to be serious. Keep it day-by-day.”
Phoenix acquired Green, Brooks and the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, 7-footer Khaman Maluach, from Houston in the Kevin Durant trade.
Grayson Allen has been starting for Green while Royce O’Neale got the start Monday for Brooks.
The Suns begin a three-game homestand against the Grizzlies (2-2). Phoenix went winless on its three-game road trip, losing to the Los Angeles Clippers, Nuggets and Jazz.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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