Jalen

Green

Green led four Suns starters with 20 points, two fewer than his total in Phoenix’s first two games. Efficiency has never been his strength, and that has limited Green’s value in category leagues. However, over three games, his biggest issue has been producing beyond points and assists. Until that changes, Green will continue to underwhelm in fantasy basketball.

Green scored eight of his ten points in the first half of Wednesday’s 124-83 defeat, offering minimal fantasy value in his 25 minutes. Injuries eliminated most of his fantasy value last season, the first year in which Green did not play at least 67 games. If he stays relatively healthy, Green can offer some value to fantasy managers, especially in points leagues.

Green took on a bigger playmaking role on Saturday, as the Suns were without Devin Booker. Although he committed three turnovers, Green was efficient overall. For fantasy purposes, field-goal percentage has been Green’s biggest issue. Last season, his field-goal percentage (42.2) matched his career number, but his free-throw shooting (74.7) and injuries were also problems. If Green, who played all 82 games in 2023-24 and 2024-25, can improve his percentages, he’ll be far more valuable to fantasy managers.

Green’s complete stat line against the Bulls included four turnovers, but his overall production outweighs that. He, Dillon Brooks, and Devin Booker all had usage rates of 28.5 or higher against the Bulls, and that may continue into the regular season. Green hasn’t been the most reliable fantasy option, but being asked to do more playmaking for others could boost his value if he keeps the turnovers in check.

It was encouraging to see Green out there with Phoenix’s main rotation players after a series of hamstring issues limited him to a career-low 32 games where he averaged a meager 17.8 points per-game, his lowest single-season total since his rookie year. The 24-year-old is one of the more challenging scoring threats to project fantasy-wise after last year’s injury-plagued season, but he seems like a logical bounce-back candidate in redraft leagues.

Green’s efficiency has improved by the game in this series, but the Suns still find themselves in a 0-3 hole. Amongst Suns players, only Dillon Brooks scored more points than Green in Game 3, and he was also effective as a playmaker for others with six assists and one turnover. If Phoenix is to send the series back to Oklahoma City for a Game 5, they’re going to need Green’s best effort of the season in Game 4 on Monday.

Green struggled again with his shooting after an inefficient opening game. He missed 15 shots on Wednesday, and nearly tallied as many turnovers as he made field goals. Green is now shooting 14-of-39 from the field through two games in this series, which is a far different outcome compared to the 28-of-49 shooting and 71 points he tallied over the two Play-In Tournament games. Phoenix will likely need Green to get back on track offensively if it wants to get back in the series on Saturday.

Green shot 2-of-7 from beyond the arc in Game 1, with the complete stat line being countered in an inefficient day of shooting the basketball. Like Devin Booker (23/6/2 with two three-pointers), the Suns are going to need a much better showing from Green if they’re to have any chance of making the series competitive, much less harbor ambitions of winning it. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night.

Green was exceptional on Friday to help the Suns clinch a spot in the playoffs. The first-year Sun accounted for nearly half of his team’s 18 triples, and missed only six shots en route to totaling a game-high 36 points. He also contributed as a facilitator and amassed five stocks on the defensive end of the floor. Phoenix will take the floor in less than 48 hours to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, where Green will look to stay hot.

Green was Phoenix’s best scorer on a night that he logged a team-high 39 minutes. He was cold from the three-point line but made up for his inefficiency from beyond the arc by dazzling in the paint and finding production in the midrange. Green, however, did commit five turnovers in the process. Still, his positives outweighed the negatives on this night, and he’ll have another opportunity to help Phoenix get into the playoffs on Friday when it faces the winner of Wednesday’s Clippers-Warriors game.