NBA

Oso Ighodaro is winning the Suns’ center battle for a reason

October 8, 2026

The Phoenix Suns are facing a critical center position battle with Mark Williams out for months, and early preseason matchups have already highlighted why Oso Ighodaro may be the frontrunner. Through two games, Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach have shown distinct strengths, but the Suns’ starting lineup lacks key offensive tools—no true playmaker, subpar three-point shooting, and limited rebounding.

Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges collectively shoot just 34.7% from deep, while Bridges’ 9.2% rebounding rate last season ranks 140th among NBA players with significant minutes. That leaves the center spot to fill gaps in size, distribution, and spacing, with Ighodaro emerging as the more promising solution so far.

The Suns’ offense will rely on a committee approach to ball movement, given no single starter excels as a facilitator. Booker and Green’s shooting slumps—Booker at a career-low 33.3% from three—add urgency to the center debate, as the chosen player must anchor both the paint and the floor spacing.

With Ighodaro already making an impression, the Suns’ front office will closely monitor how his physicality and versatility compare to Maluach’s development in the coming weeks.