One Phoenix Suns Player Isn’t Getting the Attention He Deserves

The Phoenix Suns now have one sole focus following the conclusion of the 2026 Summer League in Las Vegas - that is in officially preparing for the 82-game season that is ahead. 

While players such as second-year forward Khaman Maluach and rookie Koa Peat have snatched a lion's share of the recognition over the last two weeks, there remain players that are part of the "young core" that are being overlooked in the process. 

Included in the group of under-appreciated players is none other than third-year center Oso Ighodaro, who started in 24 games last season, including during Phoenix's playoff run. The Arizona native and Marquette alum was recently listed as the Suns' hidden gem by Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report - and for good reason.

Ighodaro often gets forgotten about while playing amongst incumbent starting center Mark Williams, as well as the aforementioned rising star in Maluach. There's some debate as to where Ighodaro's long-term spot on the court is position-wise as well, and the 24-year old's lack of an outside scoring game puts a cap on what he can ultimately pull off offensively at the moment.

However, Ighodaro brings positives that demand playing time in Jordan Ott's rotation. Perhaps the most crucial of these positive skills is his sheer ability to pass out of the block - Ighorado's passing vision, precision in threading the ball in a layered manner, and timing all came together to the tune of nearly four assists per game in 2025-26. Ighodaro's uncanny playmaking ability is something that Williams doesn't quite possess and is a work in progress for Maluach. Beyond this, Ighodaro is an exceptional screener on average, while also having a signature floater that is quite effective, as attuned by his 65.3% mark from the field. 

All in all, Ighodaro just might be the optimal big man to play in key moments to maximize Devin Booker's tough shot-making ability and playmaking chops for those very reasons - this goes for the remainder of the roster as well, to a lesser extent.

Ighodaro's inconsistencies as a rebounder and having an average shot attempt depth of just four feet away from the hoop are currently areas that cap his ceiling off, but those shortcomings certainly aren't reasons to undervalue what he currently provides the team. Expect year three to be the most fruitful one yet for Ighodaro, with the 6'11" big man being just one piece of a youth revolution that is occurring in Phoenix.

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Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.