Hall of Famer Thomas Mentors Suns Big on Free Throws

Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro is focusing on enhancing his free throw shooting, a critical aspect of his game that saw a decline last season. He recently received valuable advice from NBA legend Isiah Thomas during training camp. Thomas, a two-time NBA champion, shared personal techniques, emphasizing keeping the elbow in to improve consistency at the line. Ighodaro's free throw percentage fell to 45.3% last season, a significant drop from his rookie year. This improvement is particularly important as the team prepares for the upcoming season. Thomas's mentorship is seen as a significant boost, given his own career free throw success rate of 75.9% and his close relationship with team owner Mat Ishbia.

The Suns are also navigating roster changes due to injuries. Center Mark Williams is expected to miss several months following surgery for a torn labrum, opening up more opportunities for Ighodaro. He is competing with Khaman Malauch for the starting center position. Malauch demonstrated a respectable 71% free throw accuracy last season. Ighodaro acknowledges the competitive nature of securing the starting role, stating that nothing is guaranteed despite Williams' absence. The team is actively engaging in 5-on-5 drills as they ramp up for the preseason, which begins October 5th on the road against the Detroit Pistons. Fan Fest is scheduled for October 2nd.