Booker's Return to Practice Signals Critical Juncture for Suns
The Phoenix Suns' immediate future hinges on the health of one man: Devin Booker. On March 1, 2026, the five-time All-Star guard participated in live 5-on-5 action in practice, marking a significant step toward his return from a right hip strain that has sidelined him for the team's last four games. This development, reported by Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, is the central nervous system of a Suns team navigating a complex web of injury recoveries, individual slumps, and a tightening Western Conference playoff race. With a record of 34-26, Phoenix is positioned for the postseason, but their ceiling is intrinsically tied to Booker's availability and the ability of key supporting players like Jalen Green and Mark Williams to rediscover their form.
Booker suffered the injury in a 121-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on February 19. His absence has been keenly felt; the Suns are 27-17 with him in the lineup this season, where he averages a team-high 24.7 points and 6.1 assists. Head coach Jordan Ott, speaking after the March 1 practice, struck a cautiously optimistic tone. "He continues to progress," Ott said. "He was able to get some live work here in practice, which again helps because we have so many days in between." The Suns have benefited from an extended break, last playing on February 26 in a 113-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Their next game is on March 3 against the Sacramento Kings, and while Booker's status for that contest was uncertain as of Sunday, his trajectory is positive. "He did more (Sunday) than he did a couple of days ago," Ott added. "All of that is moving in the right direction."
The Supporting Cast: Green's Shooting Woes and Williams' Offensive Rut
While Booker's return is the headline, the subplots surrounding Jalen Green and Mark Williams are equally critical to the Suns' stability. Green, the 24-year-old guard acquired in the offseason, has been mired in a profound shooting slump, a struggle compounded by a season disrupted by a right hamstring injury. Over his last four games, Green is shooting a dismal 21-of-75 (28.0%) from the field and 5-of-33 (15.2%) from three-point range. For the season, he is averaging a career-low 12.9 points on 36% shooting. Coach Ott pointed to conditioning and rhythm as primary factors. "It starts with his movement... The conditioning piece. We obviously see him gassed probably a little bit sooner," Ott explained. He emphasized that simply getting Green consistent game action is the remedy. "He knows he's a little out of rhythm, but it's good just to get him out there."
Similarly, starting center Mark Williams has seen his offensive production plummet. Over the recent four-game homestand, Williams scored just 21 points on 27 shot attempts (10 made). His struggles have extended over a six-game stretch where he's averaged 6.3 points and 6.7 rebounds on 39.5% shooting, a stark drop from his season averages of 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds on 63.5% shooting. Williams has also battled foul trouble, particularly for illegal screens. "I think one could argue every screen is illegal that every team sets," a smiling Williams said, suggesting the calls will correct themselves. His recent play opened the door for backup center Oso Ighodaro, who logged 34 impactful minutes in the win over the Lakers, showcasing defensive versatility and elite screening that freed up guards like Collin Gillespie.
Roster Context: Injuries, Acquisitions, and Evolving Roles
To understand the Suns' current predicament, one must examine the roster construction and other injury concerns. The team is also without backup guard Jordan Goodwin, who is dealing with a left calf strain and is "just now ramping up" onto the court, per Ott. Goodwin's absence further thins backcourt depth as the team awaits Booker's full return. Furthermore, the Suns' identity was reshaped by the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant out of Phoenix. A key return in that deal was veteran wing Dillon Brooks, whose on-court persona as a defensive agitator belies his off-court demeanor. In a profile by Jason Quick of The Athletic, Booker detailed his burgeoning friendship with Brooks, forged over the offseason. "It doesn’t catch me off-guard anymore... you see somebody on the court and they act as a totally different person," Booker said. "So him being a naggy person, the annoying person to play against, then you meet him, and he’s soft-spoken and humble." This integration of Brooks's tenacity is a vital component of the Suns' defensive aspirations.
The center rotation, featuring Williams and Ighodaro, presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Coach Ott. Williams, who will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026, is playing for his next contract. His recent dip in form and minutes could have significant financial implications. Ighodaro, meanwhile, has seized his chance, demonstrating value as a mobile, intelligent big who can defend in space—a crucial asset against perimeter-oriented stars like the Lakers' Luka Doncic. Ott's decision-making between the two will be a bellwether for the team's tactical approach down the stretch. "There's only one five-man on the floor often times for us... I thought last game (Ighodaro and Williams) played well," Ott noted, indicating a potential matchup-based approach.
Historical Parallels and the Booker Effect
The Suns' current situation—a team leaning heavily on its superstar while role players search for consistency—is a familiar narrative in the NBA. Historically, contenders like the post-trade deadline Suns often go through an adjustment period where new pieces (Green, Brooks) must acclimate and existing players (Williams) must adapt to evolving roles. The "Booker Effect" is a quantifiable phenomenon for Phoenix. The team's winning percentage jumps significantly with him on the court, not just because of his scoring but due to the gravitational pull he exerts on defenses. As Ott succinctly put it, "Book helps make all of our lives better. Not just those two [Green and Williams]." His return should create higher-quality shots for Green on the perimeter and more space and cleaner looks for Williams around the rim, theoretically jump-starting both players.
Comparing this to previous Suns iterations is instructive. The championship-contending teams of the early 2020s relied on a deep, synergistic roster where Booker was the primary engine but not the sole creator. The current roster, still gelling post-Durant, is more explicitly built around Booker's playmaking and scoring genius. The pressure on him to return and immediately elevate the team's performance is immense, but it's a burden he has carried for much of his career. The extended break in the schedule has been a rare gift, allowing Booker to heal without the pressure of missing critical games, a luxury not afforded during the grind of a typical NBA season.
Why It Matters
Beyond the immediate playoff implications, the Suns' current crossroads speaks to the fragile ecosystem of an NBA contender. Most coverage focuses on the binary of "star injured/star healthy," but the deeper story is about systemic resilience. A team's capacity to withstand the absence of its best player is the true test of its construction and coaching. The Suns' 2-2 record without Booker in this stretch is neither disastrous nor inspiring; it reveals a team treading water, not sinking. The simultaneous slumps of Green and Williams, however, expose a lack of reliable secondary creation—a flaw that becomes fatal in the postseason when defenses can hyper-focus on a lone star.
This period also highlights the modern NBA's conditioning paradox. Jalen Green's struggle to find his rhythm after a hamstring injury is a microcosm of a league where the game is faster and more physically demanding than ever. Players can no longer simply "play themselves into shape" during the season; the athletic and skill gap is too narrow. A prolonged absence, even for a young elite athlete, can require a multi-week re-acclimation period that a team in a tight playoff race can ill afford. For fans and analysts, this underscores that judging a player's contribution or a trade's value in the immediate aftermath of an injury return is often premature and unfair. The real evaluation begins once the player has had 10-15 games to rebuild their NBA conditioning and timing.
Finally, the Mark Williams situation is a classic case of contract-year dynamics intersecting with team performance. His upcoming restricted free agency adds a layer of personal urgency to his on-court struggles. Will he press, trying to force production to boost his value, potentially to the team's detriment? Or can he embrace a role that may involve fewer minutes but more specific, high-impact tasks? How the Suns manage this—prioritizing Williams' development for their future versus maximizing Ighodaro's current utility for wins—will be a telling case study in front-office and coaching alignment during a win-now window.
What to Watch For Next
The immediate horizon holds several key indicators for the Suns' trajectory. First and foremost is Booker's official return to game action. Reports indicate he is off the injury report for the upcoming game against the Kings, suggesting a likely return. His minutes restriction, if any, and his on-court chemistry with Green and Williams will be under a microscope. Does Green immediately see more open looks? Does Williams get easier opportunities at the rim? Second, monitor the center rotation. Does Ott revert to Williams as the unquestioned starter, or does Ighodaro's strong play against the Lakers earn him a more permanent share of the closing-minute duties, especially against versatile offensive teams?
Third, the schedule provides both opportunity and challenge. A game against the league-worst Sacramento Kings (14-47) is a prime chance to reintegrate Booker and build confidence. However, the Western Conference offers no easy nights, and the Suns must stack wins to secure a favorable playoff seeding and avoid the play-in tournament. Finally, watch Jordan Goodwin's recovery timeline. His return will bolster backcourt defense and provide another ball-handler, reducing the load on Booker and allowing Green to focus more on scoring within the flow of the offense. The Suns' season is at an inflection point; how they navigate the next two weeks could define their entire playoff journey.
