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PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns will start Oso Ighodaro at center in their preseason opener against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, head coach Jordan Ott revealed before the game. Ighodaro is engaged in a position battle with rookie Khaman Maluach, as the team navigates the absence of Mark Williams, who suffered a torn labrum during the offseason.
Ighodaro, who made 24 starts for Phoenix last season and started all four playoff contests, will get the first opportunity to impress. Ott also noted that every player except Williams will be available to play against Detroit.
The decision could indicate that Ighodaro currently holds a slight edge in the competition, with just 16 days remaining until the regular-season opener. However, the Suns have consistently stated they will experiment with various lineup combinations involving both centers to determine the best fit.
"We mix it up," Maluach said last week. "It's not one person with one unit. We mix it up. Trying to see different matchups. Second team, third team, first team, we mix it up and see what matchups work best or whatever is best for the team."
That approach makes sense given the contrasting styles of the two big men. Ighodaro operates as a playmaking connector on offense and a switchable defender on the other end, while Maluach, whom the Suns hold in high regard, is a dominant interior presence on both sides of the ball and can also step out to hit 3-pointers.
Ott previously indicated that a final decision on the starting center would not come until "a couple of days" before the Oct. 21 season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers.
"We've got two soldiers that are going to come in, compete, do what's best for the team. Who starts, who finishes, it's going to change," Ott said. "Every night is a little bit different. Matchups different, but once you get a starting center, you want to keep him for as long as you can until you have to make a change."
With shooters like Collin Gillespie and Luke Kennard coming off the bench, there is a case to be made that Ighodaro might be better utilized as a reserve, where he can act as a hub to create open looks for those shooters. On the other hand, he possesses far more experience than Maluach, who saw limited action as a rookie last season, and the first unit lacks a true playmaker.
Even with Ighodaro earning the start, the Suns are expected to deploy different lineups around both centers starting tonight, making this the first game action to evaluate which player fits better with each group.
Tonight's game is scheduled to tip off shortly after 4 p.m. MST.
Brendan Mau is a staff writer for Suns on SI. Brendan has been a credentialed media member covering the Suns since 2023 and holds a bachelor's degree in sports journalism from Arizona State's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. Follow Brendan on X @Brendan_Mau for more news, updates, analysis and more!