Reports suggest Phoenix will hand the playmaking reins to the explosive young guard, testing whether his elite athleticism can unlock a new dimension for Devin Booker.
The closing stretch of the offseason for the Phoenix Suns is now in sight. While excitement is in the air, there is much debate being stirred about how the somewhat reshuffled personnel will co-exist together.
Among the questions centers around the role that second-year Suns guard Jalen Green will play. The presumption has long been that Green will once again play an off-guard role, but recent words from local media member Benjamin Garcia refute this belief.
Garcia recently revealed (under self-proclaimed good authority) that the Suns are planning to utilize Green as the de-facto point guard in the 2026-27 season.
If this is the case, it certainly stirs up debate as to whether this is the correct call or not. The former lottery pick is continually showing potential as a well-rounded playmaker, although only playing in 32 games last season and an inconsistent profile as a scorer hold him back from being a true difference maker here.
There is absolutely a world in which Green proves to be worthy of the title of point guard despite this. The 24-year-old is an exceptional athlete. Placing the ball in his hands in a spaced-out half-court setting has the potential to gift him opportunities to be an advantage creator that have seldom existed in the past.
This has the chance to aid in the integration of forward Miles Bridges into the offense, as well as providing a more natural runway for shooting guard Devin Booker to return to a more optimized role.
Detractors of "point Green" will argue that his career assist-to-turnover ratio, an inconsistent career arc as a passer, and being an average shooter all prevent the G-League Ignite alum from being as effective as a point guard should be.
While Green is still working his way along the ropes heading into year six, his major flaws have a real chance to either be rectified or covered up - between better health fortune, a coaching staff that actually works to optimize him, and teammates that better compliment his skillset.
Only time will tell if Green ultimately plays point guard (or is effective in the role), but the second-year Sun certainly owns the requisite talent and upside to deserve a shot to execute the responsibility.
The Suns are set to open up the 2026 preseason on October 5, when the team travels to take on the Detroit Pistons.
