Oso Ighodaro, Suns set to 'go after it' with season on the brink

Q: How many games did Oso Ighodaro play this season for the Phoenix Suns?

Oso Ighodaro played all 82 games during the season.

Q: When was the last time a Phoenix Suns player played all 82 games in a season?

The last Suns player to play all 82 games was Mikal Bridges in 2022.

Q: What is Oso Ighodaro's height and weight?

Oso Ighodaro is nearly 7 feet tall and weighs 235 pounds.

Q: Who did the Phoenix Suns face in the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The Phoenix Suns are set to face the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

At nearly 7 feet tall and weighing 235 pounds, Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro is an easy target for opponents to hit. It’s one of the many reasons his durability sticks out.

Ighodaro played in all 82 games this season, the first Suns player to do so since Mikal Bridges in 2022. That durability is an important attribute for Ighodaro.

“I feel like it’s a testimony to my work in the offseason,” Ighodaro told The Arizona Republic ahead of the NBA Play-In Tournament against the Portland Trail Blazers. “I definitely take pride in that.”

That durability has been a staple of Ighodaro’s game dating back to high school. As a prep at Phoenix Desert Vista, where he starred from 2016-20 and helped lead the Thunder to a state championship, Ighodaro rarely missed time, his high school coach Gino Crump Sr. said.

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott looks up from the sidelines as the team faces the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) yells out to the refeee after being called for a foul against the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) celebrates his 3-point shot against the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) reacts after making a 3-point shot while being fouled against the Portland Trailblazersduring their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before playing the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) shoots the ball over Portland Trailblazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives between Portland Trailblazers defenders Toumani Camara (33) and Deni Avdija (8) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) lays the ball up while being fouled by Portland Trailblazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) celebrates his 3-point shot against the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before playing the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) shoots the ball over Portland Trailblazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Typically, taller players suffer from more injuries during their careers. It’s the nature of the game and their height. As the Square-Cube Law, a principle in biomechanics, states: As a player's height increases, their mass grows faster than their structural strength, meaning a 7-footer's bones and tendons are not proportionately stronger to handle the extra weight.

“He was blessed,” Crump said. “He had a fluke injury sophomore year, a kid hit his finger at practice and broke it. He missed a majority of the season. But other than that, he’s never had any injuries. Always consistent his whole career.”

That trend carried over to Marquette in college. There, Ighodaro was a mainstay for the Golden Eagles, playing in all 72 games in his final two seasons.

What goes into that?

“The weight room,” Ighodaro said. “My approach doesn’t change there. It definitely keeps me safe, putting on muscle, protecting myself. I take care of my tendons a lot, I do that every day. We have a great staff here with the Suns.

"I think pushing myself in the weight room, not taking days off, really helps me.”

Ighodaro doesn’t specifically outline a goal of playing all 82 games in the preseason. It’s more of a result of the work that is put in.

And his desire for the game.

Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) defends a shot by Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 14, 2026.

“I want to play," he said. "I want to be out there. I don’t want to miss games.”

It’s a desire that Crump has watched since Ighodaro’s high school days in the Ahwatukee Foothills.

“He loves to play basketball,” Crump said. “If he had an opportunity to play versus load management, I know what he’s going to choose. It’s going to be play basketball because he wants to win. That’s what I love about him. That’s what he is. He’s a winner.”

That durability will be key moving forward as the Suns get ready to play the Los Angeles Clippers or the Golden State Warriors for the No. 8 and final seed on Friday, April 17.

The Suns lost to the Trail Blazers on April 14 despite a 35-point effort from guard Jalen Green. Ighodaro led the team with six assists.

It will either be a game against a Los Angeles team featuring Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game, or a fading Golden State dynasty with a player who still strikes fear into the minds of many across the league.

The Warriors' Stephen Curry has been dealing with a knee injury since the All-Star break and just recently returned to action on April 5, but Leonard would be a challenge.

“The head of the snake is Kawhi, everything starts with him,” Ighodaro said. “They have good perimeter defenders, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr. They’re a versatile team. Then they bring their bench in, play a little bit faster. They got a good little mix of everything."

And Golden State?

“No matter who they have out there," Ighodaro said, "they still stick to their identity, play extremely hard. They’re a tough matchup as well.”

The Suns' surprising season could end on April 17.

“We just have to be us,” Ighodaro said. “We have to guard 48 minutes. We can’t have spurts of the game where we let up. I felt like we had the game won tonight, then we let up a little bit, made some mistakes. Let them back in.

"It’s win or go home. Just got to go after it.”

Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Oso Ighodaro's durability key for Suns moving forward in playoffs