The Phoenix Suns began their quest for a first ever championship Sunday night in Los Angeles, with a 118-114 preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers. A game that will immediately be forgotten about, although new Lakers head coach JJ Redick had them playing some free-flowing offensive sets.
How the Lakers develop under Redick will be worth keeping an eye on over the course of the season if you're a Suns fan, as the two are sure to be in direct competition with each other in the Western Conference. Credit to their front office as well, they appear to have nailed their first round draft pick this year in Dalton Knecht.
But the Suns have a rookie of their own making waves.
It was revealed by head coach Mike Budenholzer prior to heading to Los Angeles that starting center Jusuf Nurkic wouldn't play as a result of a finger injury. Nurkic is due to be re-evaluated in a week - although he did make the trip with the team - with backup Mason Plumlee getting the nod to start.
He managed 14 minutes and performed as you would have expected him to, but it was Oso Ighodaro who stole the show in this one. The Suns' coaching staff seeing fit to give him 27 minutes off the bench - the most of the 16 players who featured for the team - which he repaid them by putting up 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Is Oso Ighodaro already better than Mason Plumlee?
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) October 7, 2024
So good was Ighodaro in this one, that some fans took to social media to christen the young big man "baby Jokic". High praise indeed, although some of his passing both out of the post and around the perimeter was exactly what the Suns needed on certain possessions. It has also given coach Budenholzer a selection headache moving forward, and that's a great problem to have.
One of Nurkic's key strengths for this group - and it was on full display last season - is his great ability to be a connector offensively. It's never about him, but his mix of passing from all positions and screening off the ball allowed the Suns to flow on that end. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant will always get the credit, but Nurkic played his part in getting his teammates the looks they wanted.
It's only preseason - although there were also some flashes in Summer League - but Ighodaro could add another dimension to the Suns, but this could be achieved on both ends of the court. Already his passing looks a bit more flashy - whereas Nurkic will willingly find the open man - Ighodaro looks like he has greater passing ability early on.
In terms of athleticism there's also no question Ighodaro is miles ahead of his teammate. Nurkic is now 30-years-old and has had his fair share of injuries, while Ighodaro has all the bounce you would expect from a guy fresh out of college. On the offensive end at least, he already looks like a much greater lob threat who can be a problem in the paint for opponents.
Team ball. pic.twitter.com/TA2OJgM8zi
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 7, 2024
Defensively he doesn't yet have the IQ of Nurkic - but if he can catch on quickly - then his body type could be exactly what the Suns need to take another step forward. He's going to struggle to contain monsters like Rudy Gobert - but given Nurkic also did last season - what's the harm in seeing how Ighodaro gets on against centers?
Nurkic and Plumlee are both veterans who are here to help this team win games, but the Suns have clearly spotted something in Ighodaro. It is no coincidence that both himself and fellow rookie Ryan Dunn played the most minutes of any players in this one - and if he can continue to take advantage of this opportunity - he's going to steal minutes from both Plumlee and Nurkic, and quickly.