The Phoenix Suns pulled off yet another impressive win on Saturday, and they did so with Devin Booker out there despite rolling his ankle only a few days previously.
The 29-year-old showing he clearly believes in what this team is doing by lacing them up to play, finishing with a team high 27 points in 38 minutes of action.
Booker is fed up of not playing alongside Jalen Green
During media availability after the game, the wording Booker chose when the subject of Jalen Green getting back onto the court was interesting in that it didn't leave any room for misinterpretation.
"I think we've overdone it with keeping him out. He's going to be healthy and strong and ready to go."
Devin Booker (ankle) on any doubt he'd play: "Not really. Nah. I knew the adrenaline would kick in."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 18, 2026
27 pts in Suns 106-99 win vs Knicks at @TheGarden.
"I always say when I see young players that come in here that really don't care about it, you're not a true hooper. To have… pic.twitter.com/QmIkTCbjIl
It's not like Booker doesn't trust the judgement of the Suns or their trainers on their timeline for bringing Green back from his hamstring issue, but saying they've overdone it is a choice word to use.
Really he's just excited to have another elite scorer who can take some of the burden off him each night, and we know he is going to excel here because of how Grayson Allen has performed this season.
At a time when it looked like trading him might be the best option, he has instead become a reliable secondary playmaker for this roster, while continuing to light it up from beyond the arc.
Booker has never been one to voice his displeasure to the media about what is going on in the organization, and it must be stressed again that he cut a relaxed figure when talking about Green.
What is likely happening here is that he realizes now that this group could actually make the playoffs proper, and might even get a chance to avenge the biggest embarrassment of the decade in the process.
Having Green along for the ride would be a massive boost, because it would slide both Allen and Dillon Brooks down the pecking order offensively, which would give the team more ways to hurt opponents.
The Suns also have the second best defensive rating since the turn of the year, and although Green isn't going to help that, the rotations are set up to absorb a minus defender entering the mix.
So while it was out of character for Booker to answer this question the way that he did, you can't blame him for being excited about having Green back on the court soon.
This could happen sooner than expected, as he has been upgraded to questionable for the Suns' next game on their Eastern swing versus the Brooklyn Nets.