Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Oso Ighodaro
Center, 6’11”, 235 pounds, 24 years old, 3rd season
Oso Ighodaro has had a lot of discussion surrounding his name in his short tenure here in Phoenix. Early on, he was viewed as a potential draft steal as a second-round pick, but fans ultimately had higher expectations. With last year being his first full season in the rotation, the big man is still looking to make a lasting imprint, as others in his role are in the same position.
With the tenth overall pick in Khaman Maluach expecting more leeway, and Mark Williams on the roster as well, the room does seem crowded. That said, Ighodaro has the trust of head coach Jordan Ott to get more burn, especially since Williams suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder. This then prompted the team to sign Duop Reath to a training camp deal for insurance, but it also gives Ighodaro more competition and a bigger opportunity ahead.
Now, with training camp starting soon, Ighodaro has a chance to take the starting job and never let go of it if he chooses. He has said he is working on parts of his game to help him make that leap in his third season, and every fan is watching: who is the future center for this team?
Last Season
| GP | MIN | PPG | RPG | APG | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% | OFFRTG | DEFRTG | +/- |
| 82 | 22 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 65.3% | 0% | 45.3% | 114.8 | 109.7 | 5.1 |
The Suns’ big man was the true iron man for this squad, as he was the only one to register minutes in all 82 games this year. This is kind of an anomaly in the Valley, as we have seen the injury bug strike a bunch recently, so Oso dodging it is quite a miracle. With him available for every game, he could build momentum early, especially with Williams being out during the preseason and the first few games.
Unfortunately for Ighodaro, he ran into top-tier big men in Domantas Sabonis and Nikola Jokic early in the year, and those proved to be tough battles from the jump. This prompted many fans to turn on him and switch their stance from “draft steal” to “not needed.” Fortunately for Ighodaro, he didn’t let that get in his way in his sophomore season.
He proved that when Ott trusted him in big-time minutes, he could deliver, and he quickly formed a strong pick-and-roll duo with guard Collin Gillespie. This connection helped him on the court by letting the bench unit generate easy looks and points on these plays. With this tandem on the court, they elevated the bench play and brought promise to both of their games in this new system.
Contract and Roster Construct
Ighodaro is in the third year of his rookie-scale contract. He signed a 4-year contract just shy of $8M when he was drafted a few years back. Next year, he is on a club option, allowing the team to decline it and sign him to a comfortable extension or bring him back for just under $ 2M as they work out whether he will be part of the future.
Regardless, it seems he will remain in Phoenix, as the contract is too good to pass up; the extension will depend on how well he does this year.
What He Brings
Ighodaro brings a lot to the bench unit as a complementary big man who helps in most areas. His strengths, though, are definitely his passing and strong defensive utility. The big is truly one of the league’s better passers, and that is why his connection with Gillespie is so influential to their success. He is a very smart basketball player with a great IQ for knowing what to do or where to be in certain scenarios. This is why Ott does trust him and can see the light at the end of the tunnel for Oso.
He is also a sound defender who, with his high IQ, knows how to do it well. He can be a solid rim protector and block shots; he can switch and guard on to smaller defenders and be solid on the perimeter. He has quick feet and can match those who try to beat him to the basket. These areas prove he has a role in this league; it just may not be the grand one everyone envies.
What Does He Need to Improve
His shooting. Flat out in every area, he has to be better at making his shots. The big man has shied away from taking threes, which has limited the plausibility of having a stretch five here lately. Malauch has been working on it (and we have seen the growth), but Ighodaro also has to attend that camp alongside him. This truly limits his ability to grow as a player, so not having it in his bag limits the potential he can reach.
Not to mention, he is also a terrible free-throw shooter. Last season, opponents sometimes played “Hack an Oso” late in games, and it cost the Suns their lead or their ability to get back into the contest. This is one area of his game that Ighodaro knew he needed to improve this offseason and has been working on.
If he can at least pick up his free-throw shooting, then it is not a catastrophe if he is left in the game for a crunch-time moment. If the Suns are injured and need Oso (like they are now), this needs to be something they can bank on. As much as we want to see Malauch get more time, we can not throw him recklessly into the fire this season if we were against it last year. That means Ighodaro has to be more of a vet in this space and be ready for these moments.
Prediction
As I said last year, Ighodaro will have a bigger role than people anticipated heading into this season once again (even without the Williams injury). Even if he is relegated to the bench at some point this year, he will show he can be a solution at center for years to come and become a staple for fans.
Stat Prediction: 80 games, 8.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg. 3.0 apg, 1.1 stl, 1.0 blk, 68/8/60 shooting splits
Final Word
Ighodaro has a lot to prove this year, as he can earn a long-term extension if everything pans out this season. Now, with Malauch behind him, he needs to earn a real role, but he doesn’t need to be the best in the building. As long as he shows he can keep growing and be someone worth investing in, he will find himself a nice paycheck from Mat Ishbia and crew, which will bring a smile to his face and mine.
