The Phoenix Suns are finalizing their rotation after a productive training camp, with a clear battle for the starting center spot emerging as the key preseason storyline. Head coach Jordan Ott is letting the competition between Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach play out, a decision that will define the team's early-season identity.
With Mark Williams sidelined due to a left shoulder injury, the Suns are testing two very different options. Oso Ighodaro brings NBA experience and averaged 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 82 games last season. His mobility and passing fit a positionless offensive scheme. Khaman Maluach, the 7-foot-1 rookie, offers a contrasting style. He played 46 games last year, averaging 3.0 points and 2.9 rebounds, and provides more vertical size and rim protection. Coach Ott told reporters he plans to use the preseason to decide. "We want to let the preseason play out, but a couple of days going into it, we'll know," Ott said. Maluach noted the competition is pushing both players, saying, "It's going great because we're getting each other better. It's not guaranteed for any of us to start."
Devin Booker remains the unquestioned hub. After putting up 26.1 points and 6.0 assists per game last season, the offense is being built to maximize his dual-threat ability. The idea is to create more actions around him without always requiring him to initiate. Jalen Green, who averaged 17.8 points last season, is developing as a secondary facilitator. Miles Bridges adds another wing creator. This allows Booker to toggle between scoring and playmaking based on defensive reads. Ighodaro's ability to facilitate from the frontcourt adds another layer. Spacing is the key variable. The Suns have personnel to play big with Ighodaro and Maluach or spread the floor with shooters, all while operating from the same core principles.
Luke Kennard's elite shooting is already altering the Suns' offensive geometry. He connected on 47.8% of his three-point attempts last season, providing a lethal floor-spacing option. Coach Ott praised his work during a recent scrimmage. Kennard's presence forces defenses to stay attached to him on the perimeter, which opens driving lanes for Booker, Green, and Bridges. He also gives Phoenix a reliable outlet for kick-out passes, making their drive-and-kick game significantly more dangerous. His skill set offers a stark contrast to the more physical interior play of the competing centers, giving Ott versatile lineup combinations to exploit specific matchups.
The Suns' training camp progress is set against a challenging recent stretch. Resolving the center rotation and integrating Kennard's shooting are seen as important steps to stabilizing performance. Fans can track the team's upcoming schedule and how these changes translate on our schedule page.
