Empire of the Suns

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns lays up a shot against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first ...
Kellan Olson

Lakers-Suns preview, Pt. 1: Devin Booker vs. NBA’s No. 1 defense

Devin Booker's first playoff series will be no small test against the Los Angeles Lakers. Can he break down the NBA's best defense?
3 years ago
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors at Amalie Aren...
Kevin Zimmerman

Looking spry at 36, Chris Paul proud of availability in 1st Suns season

Chris Paul does not look like a newly turned 36-year-old as he readies to make his Phoenix Suns playoff debut Sunday.
3 years ago
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors scores on a layup past LeBron James #23 of the Los ...
Arizona Sports

Empire of the Suns: Dissecting the Lakers-Warriors play-in matchup

Empire of the Suns podcast co-hosts Kellan Olson and Kevin Zimmerman break down what they're keeping tabs on in the Lakers-Warriors play-in game.
3 years ago
Deandre Ayton #22 and Cameron Johnson #23 of the Phoenix Suns block out Alex Len #27 of the Toronto...
Kellan Olson

Ayton, Johnson on track to be ready for playoffs as Suns get crucial rest

Ahead of the playoffs, the Phoenix Suns get a week off of games. That's a big boost they need in a few different ways.
3 years ago
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)...
Kellan Olson

How Suns match up with West play-in’s Lakers and Warriors

The most exciting game of the NBA season to this point will be on Wednesday night between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
3 years ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns talks with Deandre Ayton #22 and Mikal Bridges #25 during the N...
Kellan Olson

Offseason, long-term questions loom over Suns’ return to playoffs

The Phoenix Suns have a couple of key decisions to make this offseason and it's hard to deny the potential impact their playoff finish could have on them.
3 years ago
Phoenix Suns guard E'Twaun Moore (55) celebrates with teammates after his winning score against the...
Kellan Olson

Suns reserves outwork Spurs, grind to final regular season win

The Phoenix Suns got to show what they were all about on Sunday, even without several key players in the regular season finale.
3 years ago
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs center Gorgui Dieng...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns roll past Spurs to keep hopes alive for No. 1 seed

However you want to view what the Phoenix Suns did to the San Antonio Spurs Saturday in a 140-104 final, they did it the way they should.
3 years ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates with Dario Saric #20, Jae Crowder #99 and Frank Kami...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns win Pacific Division, clinch top-2 seed after Clippers loss

The Phoenix Suns will be either the first or second seed in the Western Conference after the Los Angeles Clippers' loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
3 years ago
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is pressured by Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) a...
Kellan Olson

Suns scratch and claw past stupendous Lillard outing, beat Blazers

The Phoenix Suns got back to their signature brand of basketball, and they had to in order to beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
3 years ago
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 09: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns shoots againsst Kentavious Caldwell...
Kellan Olson

West watch: Suns’ potential opponents starting to become clear

With the last week of the NBA's regular season underway, there is some clarity in the Western Conference standings and potential playoff matchups.
3 years ago
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, shoots against Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsk...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns’ defense slips up in loss on road to Warriors

The Phoenix Suns' usual high level of execution on defense was missing on Tuesday in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.
3 years ago
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, right, shoots over Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope...
Kevin Zimmerman

Suns make leap into top-10 of ESPN’s future power rankings

For the first time in more than a decade, the Suns have the player talent and the front office in place to string together multiple years of success.
3 years ago
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) grabs a rebound next to Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ay...
Kellan Olson

Message received: Suns hear Lakers ‘loud and clear’ in loss to champs

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams said he thought the Los Angeles Lakers were sending his team a message in his team's loss on Sunday.
3 years ago
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots between Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris (88),...
Kellan Olson

Stakes high for Lakers in Sunday’s matchup against Suns

The Los Angeles Lakers will have an extra sense of urgency for Sunday's matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
3 years ago
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images )...
Kellan Olson

Ahead of playoffs, Suns change rotation with Kaminsky ahead of Saric

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams said on Saturday that the backup center spot is indeed going to Frank Kaminsky over Dario Saric at this time.
3 years ago
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) is pressured by New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina during the ...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns turn it up in 2nd half, storm past chippy Knicks

The Phoenix Suns didn't shy away from a physical brand of basketball that the New York Knicks were playing and it brought the best out of them.
3 years ago
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns scores on a layup over Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles L...
Kellan Olson

West watch: Standings trending toward Suns-Lakers in 1st round

The Western Conference standings are moving in a certain direction, and that is a matchup between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
3 years ago
Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder forward Aleksej Pokusevsk...
Kevin Zimmerman

Suns wing Mikal Bridges cracks John Hollinger’s list of most underrated

A more aggressive Mikal Bridges may be one of the more underrated players in the NBA, according to The Athletic's John Hollinger.
3 years ago
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball while guarded by Bismack Biyombo #8 of the Char...
Kellan Olson

Celebrating Chris Paul’s signature moves on his 36th birthday

Suns fans have been treated with watching Chris Paul every night this year. On his 36th birthday, we spotlight his signature moves amplified by his high IQ.
3 years ago
Chris Paul #3 and Cameron Johnson #23 of the Phoenix Suns battle for a rebound against Onyeka Okong...
Kellan Olson

Suns blitzed by Hawks’ hot shooting in losing effort on road

The Phoenix Suns played hard on the second night of a back-to-back but it wasn't their night with the way the Atlanta Hawks were shooting the ball.
3 years ago
Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro (35) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton (22)...
Kellan Olson

Suns’ OT win over Cavs shows 2 teams Phoenix could be in playoffs

The Phoenix Suns are going to win in the playoffs being led by Chris Paul and Devin Booker, but they won't make it that far if they have to be carried by them.
3 years ago
Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams, left, confers with guard Chris Paul during the first half of the...
Empire of the Suns

MVP? All-NBA? COTY? Top award cases for Phoenix Suns’ elite season

The Suns are the best story in the NBA, tied for the league's best record entering play on Monday. With that, comes some deserved awards attention.
3 years ago
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ty Jerome (16) shoots against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) while...
Kellan Olson

Suns stumble through finish line, do enough to beat Thunder

Even though it's mostly come with wins this year, the Phoenix Suns have had a problem of playing down or up to their competition.
3 years ago