Suns reveal first starting lineup of the season with Khaman Maluach at center

Phoenix Suns basketball is back, and before the team even tipped off against the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night, an important question was answered: Khaman Maluach is the starting center.

Maluach will be joined by guards Devin Booker and Jalen Green and forwards Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges in Phoenix’s first starting lineup of the season.

Our first five.@gobellbanks | #SunsUp pic.twitter.com/gTPfjJUShq

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 22, 2026

The starting center spot was up for grabs after Mark Williams went down with a shoulder injury that required surgery in September. The 20-year-old Maluach beat out the 24-year-old Oso Ighodaro in the position battle, at least to begin the season.

Ighodaro has played in 143 games, starting 30 of them, across the past two Suns’ seasons. He’s averaged 20 minutes, 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and was rewarded for his efforts with a three-year, $29 million extension signed on Sunday.

Maluach, meanwhile, may have a higher ceiling after being selected with the 10th overall pick in 2025, and perhaps has shown enough of his development to become a full-time starter. He’s significantly bigger than Ighodaro at 7-foot-2 with a nearly 7-foot-7 wingspan and has shown intrigue as a potential 3-point shooter, something Ighodaro has not shown.

Maluach only averaged 8.9 minutes in the 46 games he appeared in during his rookie season a year ago, often being a coach’s decision-DNP. However, he did show huge strides during the NBA Summer League and preseason, with teammates like Booker super high on his potential:

“He has all the intangibles of being a star, and he’s going to get that opportunity this year,” Booker said at a Sept. 30 practice.

Head coach Jordan Ott will have plenty of opportunities to toy with the starting lineup, especially at center, as the season progresses.

Suns-Trail Blazers will tip off from the Moda Center in Portland at 7 p.m. MST.

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