The Phoenix Suns' star signing will not be able to start the season due to an injury

Shooting guard Jalen Green will not be available to debut with the Phoenix Suns at the start of the regular season next Wednesday, as confirmed by coach Jordan Ott. Prior to the last preseason match against the Lakers, Ott explained to the media — including Duane Rankin (The Arizona Republic)— that Green aggravated his hamstring injury that he suffered at the beginning of training camp.

"We all know that soft tissue injuries are complicated; evaluating their progress is challenging," Ott commented. "Obviously, it's frustrating, but it's part of the process. Fortunately, we identified it early, and it's nothing serious, but he wants to be on the court. He has new teammates, a new system... We'll have to accelerate his adaptation. That's the reality. During the trip to China, he did a great job staying involved with the group."

At the beginning of October, Ott had described the issue as a mild hamstring strain. However, the problem resurfaced during the team's trip to China, where the Suns played two exhibition games against the Brooklyn Nets. This setback prevented Green from participating in any of the four preseason games.

The coach confirmed that the shooting guard will be reevaluated in about ten days, which means he won't be able to be present for the debut against Sacramento next week. If his recovery goes well, he could return in one of the two consecutive games that Phoenix will play the following Friday and Saturday against the Clippers and Nuggets.

A Disrupted Fresh Start

Green joins the Suns after four seasons in Houston, being part of the Kevin Durant trade that also brought Dillon Brooks to Phoenix during the summer. Until now, injuries had not been a significant issue in his career: the former number two pick in the Draft has played all 82 games in the last two seasons and had not missed a game since February 2023.

The anticipation of seeing him debut with his new team has been postponed, but the franchise believes it's a minor setback. His arrival was expected to bring scoring, explosiveness, and youth to a team with aspirations to compete at the top of the West.

Another player who did not participate in any of the preseason games was center Mark Williams, although in his case, it was a planned decision to manage his preparation leading up to the start of the season. Ott explained that Williams has been practicing with contact in five-on-five sessions, so he is expected to be available for the first official game.

During the preseason, the Suns have used a starting lineup consisting of Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn, and Oso Ighodaro. If Williams is ready, he would replace Ighodaro in the starting five, while Green would take the place of Allen or Dunn once he receives medical clearance to return to play.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El fichaje estrella de los Phoenix Suns no podrá estar en el inicio de temporada por culpa de una lesión