The Phoenix Suns have stumbled out of the gates to a 1-3 start, and the worrying inability to stop opponents scoring on them needs to be addressed. A low point coming when the team conceded 138 points (in overtime) to a Utah Jazz side that many predicted to be even worse than Phoenix this season.
Unfortunately for the Suns, it doesn't look like there is a quick fix for this issue. They are also struggling to score at a respectable level when Devin Booker heads to the bench - and although the introduction of Jalen Green is going to help in that area - he has never been known as a plus defender in this league.
Suns have to bench Oso Ighodaro moving forward.
Which is why head coach Jordan Ott now has to make the biggest decision of his tenure so far, and bring second year forward Oso Ighodaro off the bench. He has started every game at the center position so far this campaign, and he has struggled. As we've already broken down though, that is not all on him given he's playing out of position against massive bigs each night.
The #Suns are setting Oso Ighodaro up to fail (✍️ @LucaLockheart)https://t.co/9g7GnY4u29
— Valley of the Suns (@ValleyoftheSuns) October 27, 2025
It would be great if Mark Williams could take his spot, but we know that's not going to happen for now. Impactful as he has been off the bench - and he's playing more minutes than Ighodaro when available anyway - he's still not in a position to play back-to-backs. Rookie Khaman Maluach isn't trusted to play big minutes yet either, so he is not a viable option.
Which should see the coaching staff turn to old reliable in Nick Richards once again. Although he is better used as a backup, he's also the best fit the Suns currently have to start at the five. Williams can still play more minutes than him when he's active - but as we saw in the loss to the Jazz - Richards is better equipped to defend the rim and naturally has better instincts for the position.
This could also have the added benefit of meaning Ighodaro can go back to the four and coming off the bench for Dillon Brooks, which should see their defensive rating begin to trend in the right direction. Offensively he has been dreadful this season, but playing alongside Green and Booker could mask that better than it is being now.
For all of the drawbacks of Ighodaro as a center, he is still explosive around the rim and is athletic enough to break up plays on both ends of the court. A two-man game with Green isn't going to change the Suns' season, but it could become a nice wrinkle to throw at opponents when Booker is taking a break. Something the Suns haven't had to begin the year. Coach Ott has to make the change.