The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a three-year, $29 million contract extension with center Oso Ighodaro, securing the young big man through the 2030-31 season. The team announced the deal on Monday, October 19, 2026, following a report from ESPN's Shams Charania. This commitment comes as the Suns prepare for their next preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 21, looking to bounce back from a 116-119 loss to the Utah Jazz on October 16.
The extension is worth $29 million over three seasons, averaging about $9.7 million per year. It will officially begin for the 2028-29 season and run through 2031. Before that, the Suns are picking up his team option for the 2027-28 campaign. His current salary is much lower, set at $2.2 million for the 2026-27 season. This structure gives Phoenix cost control now and bets on Ighodaro's future development.
Agent Erika Ruiz of Primera Sports confirmed the agreement. The Suns originally acquired Ighodaro, the 40th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, from the Portland Trail Blazers on draft night. He has steadily grown into a trusted rotation piece for the franchise.
Injury news forced the Suns' hand. Starting center Mark Williams will be out indefinitely after undergoing left shoulder surgery. Williams is expected to miss multiple months. That suddenly leaves a major hole in the Suns' frontcourt rotation.
Ighodaro's proven reliability makes him the obvious candidate to fill it. He played in all 82 games during the 2025-26 NBA season, starting 24 of them. He averaged 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 22 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 65.3% from the field. His availability is a huge asset.
But his value goes beyond basic stats. A team feature from January 2026 highlighted that his screens had generated 283 points for teammates, ranking seventh in the league at that midseason point. That screening ability, combined with his passing from the short roll, provides a foundation for the Suns' offense that doesn't always show up in the box score.
With Williams sidelined, Ighodaro will see a significant increase in responsibility. He and second-year big man Khaman Maluach will be tasked with holding down the paint. Ighodaro's role may expand offensively, but the Suns don't necessarily need him to become a high-volume scorer. His job is to defend, rebound, set hard screens, and make quick decisions with the ball.
The investment signals the Suns' belief in his continued growth. He improved his minutes from 17 per game as a rookie to a rotation staple last year. This contract rewards that progress and bets on more. It also provides long-term stability at the center position alongside Williams.
Phoenix's preseason has been a mixed bag, with a 102-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs on October 10 followed by losses to the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, and the same Spurs. Their final preseason test is on the road in Portland. Fans can track the team's progress and the upcoming schedule on our schedule page. For Ighodaro, the new deal is a vote of confidence just as his team needs him most.
