Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker injury update
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Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after an injury against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on January 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The injury bug hit the NBA hard on Friday night, with Milwaukee Bucks‘ Giannis Antetokounmpo, Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon and Phoenix Suns‘ Devin Booker all going down with various injuries.
Booker injured his right ankle in the final few seconds of the third quarter when he rolled his ankle on the foot of Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu. The four-time All-Star remained on the floor and grimaced in pain for several seconds before leaving the game. While he walked to the training room on his own, he had a noticeable limp.
When Booker left the game, the Suns had a 91-84 lead and seemed poised to improve their record to 27-17 and leapfrog the Los Angeles Lakers as the fifth seed. However, Booker’s injury proved devastating, as the Suns were outscored 26-12 in the final period, losing the game by a 110-103 margin.
Booker had 31 points in just 28 minutes before the injury.
Denver Booker Return Timeline
Sports science expert Dr. Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT, has predicted that Booker has likely suffered either a Grade II or III ankle sprain and could miss multiple weeks.
“Devin Booker – Grade II or III ankle sprain, risk of avulsion fracture due to force of inversion. Likely multi-week absence,” Mueller wrote on X. “NFL terms: the Saquon Barkley steps on defender’s foot ankle sprain. #SunsUp #RallyTheValley.”
Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT
Devin Booker –
Grade II or III ankle sprain, risk of avulsion fracture due to force of inversion. Likely multi-week absence.
NFL terms: the Saquon Barkley steps on defender’s foot ankle sprain. #SunsUp #RallyTheValley
Devin Booker Injury Update
In a concerning development, Booker was seen leaving the State Farm Arena in Atlanta on crutches, which is typically not a good sign.
Besides Booker, Jalen Green also left Friday’s game with right hamstring tightness in just second game back after missing significant time with the same injury.
After the game, Suns head coach noted that Green was held out for “precautionary reasons,” while also addressing the devastating Devin Booker injury.
“Pretty unlucky,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said of Booker’s injury, via Duane Rankin of Arizona Central. “We’ll just have to take a look when we get back to Phoenix.”
Booker is averaging 25.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game this season, enjoying a bounce-back year after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. The 11th-year guard has been instrumental in leading the Suns to a 27-18 record, good for the sixth seed in the West.
Booker has been relatively healthy this season, having missed only four of the Suns’ 45 games thus far. It now remains to be seen if the MRI on his ankle sidelines him for an extended period. If the injury keeps him out of action for 13 games or more, he could lose eligibility for an All-NBA Team.