PODCAST · sports
Empire of the Suns
by Arizona Sports
ArizonaSports.com's Kevin Zimmerman and Kellan Olson break down the storylines surrounding the Phoenix Suns every week. From in-depth analysis to breaking news reactions, the Empire of the Suns podcast has you covered for everything Suns.
-
100
Koa Peat remains a Valley boy with the Phoenix Suns
Arizona Wildcats and Perry Pumas product Koa Peat stays in-state for the triple-stage growth as an Arizonan after the Phoenix Suns traded into the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. And as they say in the NBA, triples is best.
-
99
The 2026 NBA Draft is set after the Suns re-signed Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin
Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin are re-signed with the Phoenix Suns. And that sets the table for a 2026 NBA Draft where we think the Suns will trade up to add an impact rookie.
-
98
Who could the Suns trade for this offseason? And how?
We take a top-layer look at how much the Phoenix Suns could add, subtract and trade this offseason. Could Zion Williamson or any other big names be on the table? Plus, NBA Draft Lottery talk.
-
97
What's next for the Phoenix Suns after getting swept by OKC?
Devin Booker's future aside, there are roster defects for the Phoenix Suns. A sweep by the Thunder upheld some of those beliefs, but it also built up role players like Dillon Brooks, Collin Gillespie and Oso Ighodaro.
-
96
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes bonkers, and Suns are on the brink
Devin Booker tweaked an ankle, the Phoenix rotation tightened but the Thunder remained a machine. Game 3 was the Suns' best shot at a win, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the star in front of a sleepy crowd at Mortgage Matchup Center.
-
95
Devin Booker goes at refs, Suns get Dillon Brooks heater in Game 2 loss to Thunder
Devin Booker used his postgame press conference to point a finger at officials, Dillon Brooks went on an offensive heater and the Phoenix Suns showed a little more fight in Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost Jalen Williams to a hamstring injury.
-
94
Game 1 of Suns vs. Thunder went about as we expected
Devin Booker didn't get much help with Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green struggling, while the other Phoenix Suns gave even less. The Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to a 119-84 win in Game 1 of their playoff series.
-
93
The Suns beat the Warriors and played into the playoffs
The Phoenix Suns will face the Oklahoma City Thunder thanks to a win over the Golden State Warriors that included a big Jalen Green effort and some Jordan Goodwin assistance.
-
92
Devin Booker's got the spotlight on him as Suns face do-or-die
A loss in the 7-8 play-in game by the Phoenix Suns raised big-picture questions about Devin Booker and led to a flood of Jordan Ott complaints. How will the Suns rebound in a must-win game after Portland attacked their weaknesses?
-
91
It's Suns-Blazers in the NBA Play-In Game
The Portland Trail Blazers have size and rebounding to cause problems for the Phoenix Suns in their NBA Play-In matchup. Where do the Suns have the edge?
-
90
Should the Suns prefer a play-in against the Clippers or Blazers?
The Phoenix Suns, who are now locked into the No. 7 seed, have injuries and changing rotational pieces. It'll be a thrilling, odd play-in matchup against either the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers.
-
89
The Phoenix Suns have TONS to figure out before a likely play-in berth
The Phoenix Suns have Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams back, but they'll be faced with tough questions about rotations as the offense has faltered and the defense has fallen off with five games left in the regular season.
-
88
Are the Suns set for the seventh seed?
The Phoenix Suns might be locked into the No. 7 seed, but there is still room for slippage if they falter in the next five games. Plus, Kellan Olson and Kevin Zimmerman talk about Arizona's Elite Eight run so far and NBA Draft prospects in the NCAA Tournament.
-
87
Suns might've hit their ceiling, plus an NCAA Tournament preview from NBA Draft lens
The Phoenix Suns are in the thick of a race to avoid the play-in, but their recent run makes it look like they've hit their ceiling on offense, which hasn't been helped by the dips in defense. Plus, a look at the NCAA Tournament and how important it'll be in the shuffling of a very talented 2026 NBA Draft class.
-
86
Suns' rebound includes a win over Hornets, and the rookies are showing out
The Phoenix Suns responded to their worst loss of the year with two wins, including one against the surging Charlotte Hornets. Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming are standing out, while Jalen Green and Ryan Dunn are trying to find themselves.
-
85
Mark Williams' stock is down, Rasheer Fleming's is up for the Suns lately
Phoenix Suns coach Jordan Ott appears aggressive in finding out lineup answers quickly, and we're at a tipping point for Mark Williams in a bad way and Rasheer Fleming in a good way.
-
84
Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks injuries stack up for Suns out of the NBA All-Star break
Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen have already gotten hurt, the Phoenix Suns are still surviving and rookies Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach played meaningful minutes.
-
83
Suns duck the tax with Nick Richards trade at the deadline
Nick Richards was dealt in a three-team deal that brings back Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony's contract. What did the Phoenix Suns gain by standing pat, and what else stood out NBA-wide?
-
82
How can Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks make the NBA All-Star Game? It's complicated
Dillon Brooks is coming off a career game against the Detroit Pistons, while the Phoenix Suns hope to get Jalen Green back from injury. We talk about Devin Booker's and Brooks' NBA All-Star possibilities and more.
-
81
Which Suns have value at the NBA trade deadline?
Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and others have built strong value on the Phoenix Suns. How tradeable are they? And would the Suns even consider moving them?
-
80
As the Suns remain feisty, how will they approach the trade deadline?
The win of the year against the Oklahoma City Thunder was more evidence that the Phoenix Suns will make the postseason. So a month from the trade deadline, how do they approach it?
-
79
Soon, the Suns might have the GOOD kind of rotation problems
The Suns beat some struggling Pelicans and Wizards teams before falling to the Cavs. What could their rotations look like once Jalen Green and Grayson Allen are healthy?
-
78
Are the Phoenix Suns coming down to Earth?
Dillon Brooks has produced a few whoopsie moments lately, but the Phoenix Suns are still treading water despite individual players, including Devin Booker, finding their first ruts of 2025-26.
-
77
Great-vibes Suns win over T-Wolves precedes clunker against Thunder
The Phoenix Suns stole another game they probably should not have against the Minnesota Timberwolves before getting clobbered by the Oklahoma City Thunder. You could say they're in a holding pattern until Devin Booker and Jalen Green can return.
-
76
The Suns are good! Really!
Devin Booker has gone down with an injury, but the Phoenix Suns have showed they might be able to stay afloat behind hot starts from Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie.
-
75
Suns' roster atrophy hits a limit in loss to Rockets
Devin Booker has had a rough go of late, but the Phoenix Suns' bench has kept things relatively afloat more than we thought possible. A review of a loss to the Houston Rockets and a look ahead to, yes, NBA Cup standings.
-
74
A crazy gameplan helped the Suns rebound from a loss in a big way
A blown lead against the Atlanta Hawks led to a loss, but the Phoenix Suns rebounded against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was a good sign about this team's toughness, but it also said a lot about how the coaching staff thinks.
-
73
The Suns are fun. Are they good?
The Phoenix Suns are 8-5 and appear to have a clear identity. They shoot threes and are top 10 in offense and defense. Devin Booker is back. Dillon Brooks is hilarious. Now it's about whether that can keep up.
-
72
The win vs. the Spurs gave the Suns credibility
As the Jalen Green debut nears, the Phoenix Suns have found some traction in the past week with Devin Booker picking his spots and Mark Williams in the starting lineup.
-
71
Phoenix Suns leave a lot of room for improvement 4 games in
Are the Phoenix Suns the gritty, fiesty, defensive team they said they would be? Through a 1-3 start, they're hitting only some of the marks and only sometimes. It's a long season, but there are many questions they've yet to answer.
-
70
Suns ready to lean on Devin Booker: 2025-26 preseason review and a season preview
Devin Booker is the man. Jalen Green and Mark Williams have been slow-rolled. Which rookies and young guys stood out in the preseason and how will they impact the 2025-26 Phoenix Suns?
-
69
Suns formally move on from the Big 3 era: 2025-26 Media day recap
Devin Booker has unfinished business, coach Jordan Ott and GM Brian Gregory have already hit the ground running and now it's time for the Phoenix Suns to implement schemes and expectations after they - gasp - have spent a lot of time with each other before official practices begin.
-
68
We're back after a hiatus, and Suns training camp is here
With media day set for Wednesday, Kellan Olson and Kevin Zimmerman are back as the Phoenix Suns ramp up for 2025-26 with a weird, reset roster.
-
67
Bradley Beal is gone, and a 2025 Suns Summer League review
Bradley Beal is gone but the Phoenix Suns still have roster questions. Plus, we recap the four Summer League games where Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro stood out.
-
66
2025 NBA Draft review: The Suns have a crop with Maluach, Fleming and Brea
The Phoenix Suns have more moves to make, but their 2025 NBA Draft haul of Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea is a promising crop, especially considering the moves made to get those players.
-
65
Suns draft Khaman Maluach and trade for Mark Williams
The Phoenix Suns double-dipped at center by picking Khaman Maluach 10th and trading for Mark Williams. Kellan Olson and Kevin Zimmerman are joined by Luke Lapinski and Mitch Vareldzis as part of Arizona Sports' live draft special.
-
64
Who could the Phoenix Suns pick at No. 10 in the 2025 NBA Draft?
Collin Murray-Boyles, Thomas Sorber and more are potential options for the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft. It's tomorrow. So let's cram!
-
63
Kevin Durant is a Rocket, and the Suns' return in the trade is confounding
The Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, whose package in exchange included Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and picks, leaving the Suns with an out-of-balance roster.
-
62
2025 NBA Draft preview as a Kevin Durant trade lingers
Who could fit the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft if they stick at No. 29? What if they move into the top 10 with a Kevin Durant trade?
-
61
Kevin Durant trade season has begun for the Suns
We go over what teams like the Spurs, Rockets, Timberwolves, Clippers, Raptors and more that might be willing to offer the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant.
-
60
Suns hire Jordan Ott as head coach, and Mat Ishbia sends a letter
Mat Ishbia's internal memo that followed the Jordan Ott hire as head coach might be the bigger news for Phoenix Suns observers.
-
59
The Suns' head-coaching search is down to a few guys
The Phoenix Suns are eyeing Micah Nori, Sean Sweeney, Chris Quinn and a handful of other head-coaching candidates. That and NBA Playoffs talk.
-
58
The optics don't look great around the Suns' promotion of GM Brian Gregory
Brian Gregory is now in charge of the Phoenix Suns' front office, a move that leaves a lot more questions than answers for Mat Ishbia as CEO Josh Bartelstein and now-senior advisor James Jones appear to be taking on lesser roles.
-
57
Mat Ishbia's accountability about Suns is self-aware but still leaves questions
Mat Ishbia, James Jones and Josh Bartelstein held a press conference to discuss Mike Budenholzer's firing and the Phoenix Suns' direction moving into a crucial offseason.
-
56
Reaction to the Phoenix Suns firing Mike Budenholzer with Sam Cooper from The Timeline
Sam Cooper from The Timeline joins Kellan Olson to discuss the firing of Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer on Empire of the Suns.
-
55
Kevin Durant is hurt and the Suns are tailspinning to the end
Will the Phoenix Suns still make the play-in despite Kevin Durant's injury and a return to poor play before it? We look at the final stretch of the season.
-
54
The Suns are finally playing good ball: Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro appreciation
Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, Cody Martin and Collin Gillespie have given the Phoenix Suns juice enough to revive their season. It's good basketball! Plus, Duke. Arizona.
-
53
James Jones could be the Suns' scapegoat. Or he could help them dig out of this hole
If the Phoenix Suns find James Jones to be the scapegoat, well, the next general manager better draft as well as him. We talk the importance of the upcoming draft, a few NCAA Tournament prospects to watch if you're the Suns and end with some 'Cats talk.
-
52
It gets noisy around the Suns, plus a Bol Bol hat-tip
The tumult around the Phoenix Suns has gone public with the Devin Booker and Mike Budenholzer friction. Plus, Bol Bol is doing some positive stuff!
-
51
Where do the Suns go from here?
Kevin is back on the podcast but the Phoenix Suns' problems have only gotten worse in the past three weeks.
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
ArizonaSports.com's Kevin Zimmerman and Kellan Olson break down the storylines surrounding the Phoenix Suns every week. From in-depth analysis to breaking news reactions, the Empire of the Suns podcast has you covered for everything Suns.
HOSTED BY
Arizona Sports
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...