Suns announce broadcast voices for 2026-27, Rex Chapman gets expanded role

The Phoenix Suns announced their local broadcast schedule and announcers for the 2026-27 NBA season on Wednesday.

Arizona Sports 98.7 maintains its flagship partnership with the franchise that dates back to the team’s inaugural 1968 season, with select games airing on ESPN 620 AM.

Play-by-play voice Jon Bloom returns for his fourth season in the lead chair, partnered once again with former Suns big man Tim Kempton, who enters his 25th season as radio analyst.

Prior to the Suns’ pregame show, Arizona Sports’ Kellan Olson and Mitch Vareldzis will host Here Come the Suns, and the duo will appear in postgame coverage as well.

How to watch Phoenix Suns games in the 2026-27 season

For local TV viewers, 71 regular-season games will air live on both 3TV and Arizona’s Family Sports, while all locally available games will stream on the Suns+ app via paid subscription.

Subscriptions to Suns+ are available for $14.99 per month or $109.99 for the full season.

Who calls Phoenix Suns games for TV broadcasts?

On the television side, the upcoming season brings a notable shift in the analyst booth. Veteran play-by-play caller Kevin Ray returns for his 10th season as the TV voice of the Suns, and he will be joined by a rotating cast of color commentators led by longtime partner Eddie Johnson, who enters his 27th season as a Suns television analyst.

Johnson announced on X that he will work more than 45 games, primarily home contests — a reduction from last season. He will continue to work with SiriusXM’s NBA Today and launch a new podcast.

Former Suns guard Rex Chapman is taking on a significantly expanded role.

Chapman, who served as a guest analyst last season, will step into the booth alongside Ray for more than 20 road games this season.

Basketball Hall of Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale meanwhile returns for her 15th season on the broadcast team.

Amanda Pflugrad is also back for her fourth season as the sideline reporter.

In the studio, Tom Leander returns to lead hosting duties for Suns Game Time pregame, halftime and postgame coverage alongside analyst and Suns Ring of Honor member Tom Chambers.

Former Suns big man Frank Kaminsky III also returns for his second season as a studio analyst for select games.

The Suns’ local broadcast slate tips off in the preseason before leading into the regular season opener on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the Portland Trail Blazers.

The team’s home opener on Saturday, Oct. 24 against the Golden State Warriors, will be broadcast locally on CBS 5 and Arizona’s Family Sports.

The 74-game local schedule could potentially add up to two more games between Dec. 4-11, depending on the Suns’ performance in NBA Cup Group Play.

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