Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn made sure all the media huddled around Jalen Green at the team’s practice knew his teammate turned 24 on Monday, Feb. 9.

“It’s JG’s birthday,” Dunn shouted behind the scrum.

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Green couldn’t help but laugh as Dunn walked away. “Thanks, bro,” a smiling Green said.

It’s one of those light-hearted moments that have been few and far between for Green in his first year with the Suns.

Playing just six games this season after playing every game in his two previous years with the Houston Rockets, Green has been dealing with a right hamstring injury that has sidelined him for most of the season.

“It’s been hard,” Green said after Monday’s practice. He was not on Phoenix’s injury report for the Feb. 10 game against the Dallas Mavericks (19-33) at Mortgage Matchup Center.

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The Suns (31-22) acquired Green from the Rockets in the Kevin Durant deal before the 2025 draft. The explosive and athletic 6-foot-4 guard is averaging a career-low 11 points in his fifth NBA season.

“It’s the most games I’ve missed in my life,” Green continued. “The most time I’ve spent away from basketball while still working out and everything. Just not being able to play is hard for me. That’s where I find a lot of my joy. Being out there on the floor and getting involved with the crowd and everything about it. It’s been a little difficult.”

Green first strained his hamstring during training camp and has either reinjured or tweaked it three times since.

Then, in his second return from the hamstring injury, Green took a hard fall Jan. 30 against Cleveland that sidelined him for three games.

He made his return from that Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring eight points in 17 minutes. Green appeared to run and move with more fluidity, but he admitted the injuries are on his mind.

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“There’s still some trust factor in trusting everything, but that’s going to come with time,” Green said. “Playing and being unconscious and forgetting about injuries.”

Green was able to finish around the basket, but he did go baseline in the first half and looked hesitant when going airborne with 76ers forward Trendon Watford in his path.

Fouled on the play, Green landed on his feet and made both free throws.

“I feel myself being a little cautious with, like, certain drives I could’ve attempted,” Green said. “Just thinking about it. Something that you don’t want to happen again. No one wants to be injured. There’s times I think about it or I could’ve drove. I’m hesitant, but like I said, that’s going to go out the window when I get some games under my belt and become unconscious and forget about it.”

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Phoenix Suns host Philadelphia 76ers as homestand continues

Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) comes around a screen from teammate Mark Williams (15) against 76ers forward Kelly Oubre during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 7, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns host Philadelphia 76ers as homestand continues

Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) comes around a screen from teammate Mark Williams (15) against 76ers forward Kelly Oubre during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 7, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns host Philadelphia 76ers as homestand continues

76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots a jumper over Suns center Mark Williams during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 7, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns host Philadelphia 76ers as homestand continues

Suns guard Jalen Green (4) makes a layup against 76ers forward Trendon Watford (12) during a game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Feb. 7, 2026.

The Suns have two more games before the All-Star break against the Mavs and defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the second of a back-to-back.

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Suns coach Jordan Ott said the Suns have “a plan” for Green during the break to get him healthy for the final 27 games of the regular season.

Green hasn’t started in his last four games with the Suns after starting every NBA game he played prior to that.

What happens between now and when Phoenix comes out of the break to face the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 19 in Austin will factor into Green’s return to the starting lineup.

“It starts with the minutes,” Ott said. “Once that competitive range goes up and he feels good with his conditioning piece, we’ll all be in a much better spot. Him coming back before the All-Star break obviously helped. He’ll maintain that throughout the All-Star break. We definitely have a plan for him in the All-Star break and then we’ll see where everything is post All-Star.”

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Green expressed appreciation for everyone who has been there for him through this trying season.

“From the top to the players’ equipment guys, everyone has been very helpful through this whole process,” Green said. “Just keeping me confident and being there for me. I appreciate them.”

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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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns’ Jalen Green admits lacking complete trust after injuries