Suns
Jalen Green’s return didn’t last long.
The Suns guard re-aggravated his right hamstring in just his second game back and will now be sidelined four to six weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
That timeline matches an earlier report from Arizona Sports 98.7’s John Gambadoro, who noted Green is expected to miss at least 13 games even on the short end of recovery.
It’s been a frustrating fall for Green, who originally strained the hamstring in training camp, then aggravated it during his ramp-up in October.
After missing the first eight games of the season, he logged 23 minutes in his return last Thursday but exited Saturday’s game after just seven minutes.
The 23-year-old reportedly felt a sharp pull after making a pass to Ryan Dunn for a corner three, limped to the bench and had to be helped off the floor.
Green arrived in Phoenix this summer as part of the Kevin Durant blockbuster that also sent Dillon Brooks to the Suns. Injuries were never an issue for Green in Houston — he played all 82 games in back-to-back seasons and hadn’t missed a contest since February 2023.
The Suns have managed to stay afloat without him, winning five of their last six to move above .500 at 6-5.
In Green’s absence, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale have soaked up heavy minutes on the wing, while Dunn, Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin have helped stabilize the rotation.
Hornets
LaMelo Ball took another step toward returning from a right ankle impingement Tuesday, practicing with Charlotte’s G League affiliate in Greensboro.
Ball has missed the past four games, but head coach Charles Lee said Monday that the 24-year-old is progressing well and nearing a return.
“He’s looked good in workouts,” Lee told reporters. “We just want to get him more live reps before he’s back with us.”
The Hornets have gone 1-3 during Ball’s absence and will welcome his playmaking and pace as soon as he’s cleared to return.
International
Forward JT Thor is taking his game overseas.
The former Hornets second-round pick has signed with Italian club Reggio Emilia, the team announced.
Thor, 23, spent three seasons in Charlotte and split last year between Cleveland and Washington on two-way contracts. Across 185 NBA games, he averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in just over 12 minutes per game.
A member of South Sudan’s 2024 Olympic squad, Thor now begins his first professional stint abroad. Reggio Emilia head coach Dimitris Priftis praised his addition in a team statement.
“JT is an athletic, vertical player with great footwork and quickness,” Priftis said. “He can defend, rebound and stretch the floor, exactly what we’ve been missing.”
Thor became an unrestricted free agent this summer after aging out of two-way eligibility, which limited his NBA options and opened the door for his move to Europe.
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