It's been a rollercoaster ride for Jalen Green as a Sun, which isn't much different from how his career as a whole has looked. In the limited time he's been on the court this season, it hasn't been great (most of the time), averaging 17.2 PTS on 49.4 TS% with 2.6 AST (to 2.2 TOV).
When he's on, he shows glimpses of being a superstar in the NBA, like the recent 5-game stretch (from March 6th to March 13th) where he averaged 28.8 points on 63.3% true-shooting with the Suns going 4-1. The problem is, when he's off, he'll bring the team down with him.
The highs and lows
When Jalen Green shoots 40% or worse from the field and takes 16 or more shots, the Suns are 1-5. On the flip side, when Jalen Green shoots over 40% from the field, the Suns are 7-2.
This isn't anything new for Jalen Green. The Rockets were 20-19 last season when he shot below 40% from the field, compared to 32-11 when he shot 40% or better from the field. Whether it's Houston or Phoenix, the team can only be as good as he can be.
His fit with the Suns (or lack thereof)
It hasn't been a seamless fit with him, either. The Suns are 9-7 with Green (when he plays 20 minutes or more). With the breakout of Collin Gillespie, Jordan Ott has been deploying a 3-guard lineup with the two of them next to Devin Booker, which holds just a 0.4 NETRTG in 124 MIN. This season, Devin Booker has a record of 9-7 with Jalen Green and a record of 23-14 without him.
The awkward fit goes both ways, too. Collin Gillespie hasn't been quite as spectacular when playing next to Jalen Green. With Jalen Green, his averages fall from 13.8 PTS on 60.3 TS% to 11.4 PTS on 53.8 TS%.
In his defense, the circumstances for him have been far less than ideal. He's on a new team with a new coach. He's only been able to play in 21 of the Suns' 69 games. The team around him hasn't been able to stay healthy. He's been thrown into the mix midseason on a team that had already found a recipe for success. This all plays a factor in his struggles.
Although these excuses are reasonable, the Suns are trying to win, and they were winning without him this season. Once they get whole again (*fingers crossed*), it could be argued that, on a team as deep as this, they'd be better off without a hot-and-cold player that ultimately controls how efficient the offense is.
As much as he may struggle, the Suns are invested in his success. This is Year 1 of a 3-year, $105M contract. They need this to work (and it certainly could), which is why they'll continue to stick with him through the highs and lows.