The Phoenix Suns are on the doorstep of entering a crucial 2026-27 season.

One piece of the puzzle is the development of third-year center Oso Ighodaro.

The 24-year-old center and the Suns agreed on a three-year, $29 million extension on Sunday according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Charania also reports that the Suns are exercising his team option for next season, which means that the extension won't kick in until 2028.

Read more below on why the Suns made the right decision in extending the 6'11" center before the start of the season

The 6'10" forward represents everything it means to be a member of the franchise under the leadership of Jordan Ott, Brian Gregory, and Mat Ishbia.

First of all, the former second round pick is a native of Arizona. He recognizes and respects the history of the organization, which creates an emotional connection. 

On the court, Ighodaro is a high-IQ player on both sides of the ball. He's ready and willing to defend multiple positions in multiple situations. The center is a versatile offensive hub as well, with being a low-maintenance piece being of particular value to the coaching staff. 

All in all, the Marquette alum represents what it means to be a Sun - whether it's on or off the court.

The next vital piece of motivation for the Suns to extend Ighodaro is his unabashed desire to remain with the franchise long-term (Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic).

While team turnover for players of Ighodaro's caliber/contract status isn't incredibly common, his stated desire to remain with the Suns is telling - especially since there's no guarantee he's the long-term starting player with Khaman Maluach in the fold. 

The decision to reach an extension at this time is in the best interest of both sides, and it seems that each party did indeed strike gold.

There's several areas of Ighodaro's game that can be further developed in a climb towards stardom. 

This includes the capacity for the big to grow as a shooter, rebounder, and interior threat offensively. The final area is perhaps the most intriguing, as Ighodaro is already an effective enough player on the interior behind a consistent floater. 

More post-game development, even more emphasis on strength training, and better chemistry with the Phoenix frontcourt are all steps he can take to grow into an even greater player in this season, as well as far beyond 2026-27.