Oso Ighodaro might have started the first two Phoenix Suns' preseason games and jumped out to an early lead to be the starting center come opening night for the franchise. But Khaman Maluach showed in an encouraging starting performance of his own against the San Antonio Spurs that he is going nowhere in the battle to become the starter in Phoenix.
Suns' coaching staff yet to make decision on who will start
As Kellan Olson of Arizona Sports revealed after speaking with Head Coach Jordan Ott prior to the Spurs game, which they won, he still has not decided who will start on opening night. Maluach starting for the first time doesn't change anything, but it does show he's still in the fight for that spot.
Jordan Ott said there still isn't an official decision yet on who the starting center is despite Oso Ighodaro getting the nod for the first two preseason games.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) October 9, 2026
Ighodaro deserves the edge for several reasons. He is comfortable on the court with all manner of teammates, given that he is now one of the longest-tenured players on the team, and he has figured out how to use his long and springy body no matter the opponent he is battling inside.
He has the strength and athleticism to jump over slower and more lumbering bigs. When facing those who can push him out of the way, he uses speed to try to work around them. Considering Ighodaro started on opening night last season and was a disaster, being in this position shows the work he has put in. As a former second-round pick, he is undoubtedly a success story for the organization.
But Maluach simply has that X-factor that Ighodaro will never be able to contend with. He doesn't even know what he's doing on both ends of the court sometimes, and he still has an impact. Guards have no interest in challenging him in the paint, while he's got some surprising quickness to recover when taken off the dribble.
Offensively, he still has some way to go to be a regular contributor, yet thanks to a rapidly improving 3-point shot, he is already showing he is better than Ighodaro in certain areas. Maluach also gave it to Victor Wembanyama about as well as could have been expected in beating the Spurs, and Dillon Brooks was more than impressed by what he saw.
Suns emerging as serious winners as center battle intensifies
What a luxury it is for the Suns to have a pair of bigs who are taking it to each other every day in pursuit of that starting role. Better yet, Maluach, at 20 years old, is going about his business exactly how the team would like him to.
Despite that impressive performance against the Spurs, we still believe Ighodaro has earned the right to have that starting spot when the action begins for real against the Portland Trail Blazers. But his long-term future most likely involves coming off the bench, because at the rate Maluach is improving, there will soon be no stopping him.
Not committing to having him start the campaign after everybody raved about Maluach at media day is the perfect way to handle this situation.
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