Phoenix Suns make change in starting lineup after 1-5 start

The Phoenix Suns are starting Oso Ighodaro at center instead of Khaman Maluach for tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic.

Maluach started the first six games at center in his second NBA season. The 20-year-old averaged 7.2 points on 54.8% shooting and six rebounds.

Ighodaro is averaging 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in four games. He suffered a right oblique strain in the season opener Oct. 21 at Portland.

Ighodaro missed the next two games before returning against the Denver Nuggets. In his third NBA season, Ighodaro signed a three-year, $29-million extension before the season.

A second-round pick out of Marquette, Ighodaro started 24 games last as he played every game. He was born in Chandler played high school ball at Desert Vista High School.

The Suns have been without Mark Williams (left shoulder surgery), who is expected to be out multiple months after suffering a torn labrum in an offseason workout. Starting 55 of the career-high 60 games he played, Williams averaged 11.7 points and eight rebounds in his first year in Phoenix last season.

The Suns have started this season 1-5, losing their last four games. They are last in the NBA in defensive rating.

Maluach, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke, has had some positive moments and stretches, but Ighodaro gives the Suns more experience at the position and they can run their offense through him as he’s a sound passer.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns make change in starting lineup after 1-5 start