Empire of the Suns

Phoenix Suns' head coach Igor Kokoskov speaks during media day at the NBA basketball team's practic...
Kevin Zimmerman

Suns’ challenge in Flagstaff is making Kokoskov’s offense reactionary

Igor Kokoskov is known for his creativity and extensive playbook. The challenge is teaching the young Phoenix Suns to learn, execute and react rather than think about what to do on offense.
6 years ago
(AP Photos/Matt York)...
Kevin Zimmerman

Believe them or not: Suns veterans hope to change the narrative

Veterans Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson join Tyson Chandler in attempting to finally change the culture with the Phoenix Suns.
6 years ago
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)...
Kellan Olson

Suns, Booker not ruling out opening night return from hand surgery

Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker is setting opening night as the goal for his return from hand surgery, which would put him ahead of schedule.
6 years ago
Phoenix Suns guard Isaiah Canaan (2) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Tyus Jones (1) in ...
Kellan Olson

Phoenix Suns enter media day still without an answer at point guard

The Phoenix Suns said Monday at their media day that the rebuilding process is over, but they are currently doing so with a big hole at point guard.
6 years ago
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Tyus Jones (1) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, ...
Kevin Zimmerman

ESPN’s Lowe: Suns have asked T-Wolves about PG Tyus Jones

According to sources of ESPN's Zach Lowe, the Suns have asked the T-Wolves about backup point guard Tyus Jones, a two-way contributor who reportedly considered seeking out a trade last year.
6 years ago
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)...
Kevin Zimmerman

Report: Suns dangling second-round picks in point guard search

The Phoenix Suns remain interested in point guards like Patrick Beverley, but other teams are hoping to get more than a second-round pick out of any deal.
6 years ago
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)...
Kellan Olson

Devin Booker’s injury will test Suns’ perimeter versatility early

You do not need to be an expert to see what the Phoenix Suns' plan is when it comes to roster construction and it could come into play with Devin Booker sidelined.
6 years ago
Steve Nash, a class of 2018 inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame, hugs fans after a news confe...
Kevin Zimmerman

Not just a Sun: Steve Nash is the world’s Hall of Famer, and that’s OK

Steve Nash's time with the Phoenix Suns altered not just the way players played basketball but how the game was played.
6 years ago
(AP Photo/Ronda Churchill, File)...
Kellan Olson

De’Anthony Melton brings rare defensive potential to Suns

De'Anthony Melton was a second-round pick but brings defensive potential that could make a big impact on the Phoenix Suns.
6 years ago
Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss, front, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola...
Kellan Olson

With Rockets trade, Suns pass on Marquese Chriss’ remaining upside

Suns general manager Ryan McDonough created three different risks when drafting Marquese Chriss and he's added a fourth by trading him to a great situation in Houston.
6 years ago
(AP photos)...
Kevin Zimmerman

What comes next at PG for Suns after trading Brandon Knight to Rockets?

With Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss traded to the Houston Rockets, is Devin Booker an option at point? Do the Suns trust De'Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo that much?
6 years ago
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)...
Kellan Olson

By shipping out Knight and Chriss, Suns GM moves on from mistakes

By trading Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss to the Houston Rockets for Ryan Anderson and De'Anthony Melton, Phoenix Suns GM Ryan McDonough has now sealed in cement that those gambles were complete unmitigated disasters.
6 years ago
Duke's Zion Williamson (1) dunks against Toronto during a college basketball exhibition game in Mis...
Kevin Zimmerman

Early ESPN mock has Suns drafting 2019’s most complex prospect

Zion Williamson is one of the most unique NBA Draft prospects in the last decade, and the ESPN has him landing with the Phoenix Suns in an early 2019 mock.
6 years ago
(AP photos)...
Empire of the Suns

Empire of the Suns ranks the Suns’ young core among NBA’s 15 best

The Phoenix Suns have one of the best young cores in all of basketball, but where does it rank when directly compared to others around the NBA?
6 years ago
(AP photos)...
Kevin Zimmerman

Luka votes Deandre: Is the Ayton-Doncic rivalry a bromance?

Luka Doncic picked Deandre Ayton as his NBA Rookie of the Year, and the Mavericks' and Suns' youngsters appear to be setting off on a friendly rivalry that borders on bromance.
6 years ago
(AP photos)...
Empire of the Suns

2014 NBA re-draft: Suns mostly did well with three picks in shallow class

The Phoenix Suns had three first-round picks in what has turned out to be one of the worst NBA Draft classes in some time. See who the Suns land in a re-draft.
6 years ago
Phoenix Suns' Brandon Knight, center, passes between Golden State Warriors' Shaun Livingston, left,...
Kevin Zimmerman

Six intriguing games on the Suns’ 2018-19 schedule

From LeBron James' first visit as a Laker to Phoenix to Igor Kokoskov's rematches with the Jazz, here are Phoenix Suns games to watch from their 2018-19 schedule.
6 years ago
Devin Booker, right, drives into Kevin Durant during a training camp for USA Basketball, Friday, Ju...
Kellan Olson

Should Las Vegas take Devin Booker’s potential greatness more seriously?

With the terrific statistics Devin Booker has posted at such a young age, is Booker closer than most realize of carrying a team above its projected outlook?
6 years ago
Phoenix Suns center Alex Len, from left, guard Troy Daniels, forward Josh Jackson and guard Devin B...
Kellan Olson

NBA offseason review: Suns face even more impossible Western Conference

The Phoenix Suns want to start winning but that is going to be awfully tough to do in a strong Western Conference that got even stronger this offseason.
6 years ago
Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton dunks against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of an NBA sum...
Kellan Olson

The 5: Takeaways from Summer Suns’ time in Las Vegas

The Phoenix Suns are through four games in the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League. Empire of the Suns has five takeaways from Vegas.
6 years ago
(AP Photo/John Locher)...
Kellan Olson

Suns notebook: Ayton underperforms, Okobo injured, Bridges’ revenge game

The Phoenix Suns' top overall pick Deandre Ayton had his worst game of Summer League on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
6 years ago
Dallas Mavericks' Dennis Smith Jr., right, drives into Phoenix Suns' Shaquille Harrison during the ...
Kellan Olson

Shaq Harrison continuing to prove his defense changes games for Suns

How many players entered the NBA's Summer League with a game-changing skill at their disposal? Shaq Harrison's defense is certainly on the list.
6 years ago
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)...
Kevin Zimmerman

Why now and what’s next? Booker’s extension and Suns’ 2019 free agency

The contract extension for Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker eats up cap space, but there's still enough wiggle room to make a big splash.
6 years ago
Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton, left, and Elie Okobo, right, of France, slap hands after the team intr...
Kellan Olson

Suns PG Elie Okobo’s vision, ball-handling skills impressing in Vegas

Phoenix Suns rookie Elie Okobo has already shown he's not just a scoring point guard but a natural passing point in the 2018 NBA Las Vegas Summer League.
6 years ago