{"id":99675,"date":"2024-10-07T06:46:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T10:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=99675"},"modified":"2024-10-07T06:46:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T10:46:44","slug":"preseason-gives-suns-youngsters-opportunity-to-impress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/07\/preseason-gives-suns-youngsters-opportunity-to-impress\/","title":{"rendered":"Preseason Gives Suns Youngsters Opportunity to Impress"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Phoenix Suns<\/a> kick off their preseason schedule on Sunday night against the LA Lakers<\/a>.\u00a0 With the NBA regular season just over two weeks away, new head coach Mike Budenholzer<\/a> will have the opportunity to look at some fringe players fighting to crack the rotation.\u00a0 The Suns also have one final roster spot which will be up for grabs.<\/p>\n

This includes a plethora of youngsters who will be battling for playing time.\u00a0 For the first time in recent seasons the Suns have a pair of rookies who will contribute and the formation of their new G League<\/a> affiliate, the Valley Suns, will allow them to develop more youth.\u00a0 With a lot of veteran presence, the hope is that the injection of fresh and energetic faces could provide the perfect balance.<\/p>\n

Preseason Gives Suns Youngsters Opportunity to Impress<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Drafted Rookies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Despite a lack of assets, the Suns did have two picks in the 2024 draft.\u00a0 In the first round, they selected small forward Ryan Dunn<\/a> with the 28th pick.\u00a0 They opted for big-man depth in the second round with Oso Ighodaro<\/a>.\u00a0 Both players are considered amongst the best defenders in the draft class, an area in which the Suns want to improve.<\/p>\n

Players are ahead of them in the rotation, which will limit their playing time in the regular season. However, a strong preseason could put themselves into the forefront of Budenholzer\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n

Center Jusuf Nurkic<\/a> will be out for at least a week with a finger injury, opening up a lane for Ighodaro to play more minutes.\u00a0 Mason Plumlee<\/a> is the backup, but Ighodaro should get an extended opportunity to impress at both center and power forward.<\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of the Lakers game, the 22-year-old said he will apply the same approach as he did during Summer League and training camp, using these experiences to learn and grow.\u00a0 He also emphasized the need to play hard and take on any advice from the older players in the group.<\/p>\n

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With Nurk out, Oso Ighodaro said he's approaching tomorrow's preseason game the same way he's approached Summer League and training camp: "Play hard and just listen. Whatever the older guys and the coaches have for me, just to do it." pic.twitter.com\/oci6VuTCoT<\/a><\/p>\n

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) October 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n