The The sun agreed to a three-year, $29 million extension with the third-year center Very Igadaraaccording to ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter). The deal is fully guaranteed, Kelly Icko reports for Yahoo Sports (Link to Twitter).
To do so, the team is picking up the 24-year-old’s $2.5 million team option through the 2027/28 season, with his extension beginning in 2028/29 and running through 2030/31, Charanya adds (Link to Twitter).
As the Suns continue to search for answers at center, Ighadara has proven to be a reliable, versatile defender and an effective scorer and decision maker.
He averaged 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 22.0 minutes per game last season, including 24 starts, on 65.3% shooting from the field, although he shot a career-high 49.1% from the free throws. Ighodaro started all four of Phoenix’s playoff games last year and averaged 7.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 32.3 minutes per game.
with Mark Williams is expected to miss an extended period of time after shoulder surgery, Higadaro is expected to play a key role in the Suns’ frontcourt alongside the promising second-year center Haman Maluach.
