Where do the Suns bigs stack up out West? Here’s the stark reality.
The Phoenix Suns seem to have a never-ending problem at the center position. It doesn’t matter which era, which decade, or what the circumstances are. Their inability to find a long-term solution at the position has been mesmerizing.
This season has been rough with Nurkic’s poor play, Plumlee’s limitations, and promising (but raw) rookie Oso Ighodaro. They are not getting the production a title contender needs from its center group.
The starting center in each of the past 11 seasons:
- 2024-25: Jusuf Nurkic
- 2023-24: Jusuf Nurkic
- 2022-23: Deandre Ayton
- 2022-21: Deandre Ayton
- 2021-20: Deandre Ayton
- 2019-20: Deandre Ayton
- 2018-19: Deandre Ayton
- 2017-18: Tyson Chandler
- 2016-17: Tyson Chandler
- 2015-16: Tyson Chandler
- 2014-15: Miles Plumlee
Their starting centers have ranged from role players who weren’t starting caliber players (Plumlee) to past-their-prime veterans (Chandler) all the way to the failed number 1 overall draft pick in Ayton. Sure, Deandre had some great moments, including the legendary 2021 NBA Finals run, but outside of that, it’s been a dark hole for underachieving bigs.
Now, they are stuck with Jusuf Nurkic, who is having one of the worst seasons of his career and lacks any suitors on the trade market. Despite his poor play, the Suns are reportedly not shopping him, likely for the aforementioned reason of his lack of a market. I don’t think anyone is in a rush to add Jusuf Nurkic to their team given his play, age, contract, position, etc.
The production has to improve whether it’s from Nurk, Plumlee, Oso, or preferably someone they add before the trade deadline.
Phoenix Suns Center Rotation:
- Jusuf Nurkic — 23 GP, 8.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.7 BPG in 24.3 MPG on 45.2% FG
- Mason Plumlee — 31 GP, 4.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.8 BPG in 17.5 MPG on 58.8% FG
- Oso Ighodaro — 26 GP, 3.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.5 SPG in 15.9 MPG on 59.5% FG
Western Conference Center/Bigs Rotations
These 14 teams in the West will be ranked compared to the Suns centers above with a playoff environment in mind. Which center rotation would you feel most comfortable with entering the playoffs? That’s what this is all about, after all.
Spoiler alert: The Suns are not going to
They will be ranked as follows: WAY Better, Much Better, Better, Wash, Worse, Much Worse.
WAY Better (6)
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic, DeAndre Jordan, Dario Saric, Zeke Nnaji
Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis, Jaxson Hayes, Rui/DFS*
San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins, Charles Bassey
Minnesota Timberwolves: Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, Luka Garza
Sacramento Kings: Domantas Sabonis, Trey Lyles, Alex Len
Houston Rockets: Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams, Jock Landale
Much Better (3)
Dallas Mavericks: Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell
Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Edey, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clake, Jay Huff, Santi Aldama
Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams
Better (4)
Los Angeles Clippers: Ivica Zubac, Mo Bamba, Kai Jones
Utah Jazz: Walker Kessler, Kyle Filipowski, Drew Eubanks
Portland Trail Blazers: Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, Duop Reath
Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kevon Looney
Wash (1)
New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi, Daniel Theis, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Heading into this exercise, I created subhead categories labeled “worse” and “much worse”. Those slots were not used.
That tells you everything you need to know about this group.
Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images
I actually feel better about the Suns’ wings/forwards than I did entering the season, especially with the strong play from Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, and Josh Okogie (of late) alongside KD. They are deep at the guard position as well on paper, but they cannot stay on the floor together for extended stretches due to revolving injuries and there’s a lot of crossover.
There are plenty of problems in Phoenix right now, but they start at the center position. It’s something that must be addressed at the trade deadline.
This is not a championship center rotation. Plain and simple.