Kellan Olson is ArizonaSports.com’s beat writer for the Phoenix Suns and a co-host of the Empire of the Suns podcast, as well as the intermittent night show Arizona Sports at Night. You’ll also catch him covering other teams and frequently filling in on the day shows. After graduating from the University of Arizona in 2014, he began extensively covering the Suns on BrightSideOfTheSun.com before joining ArizonaSports.com a year later. He would like for you to send him photos of your dog(s) at his Twitter @KellanOlson.
Expertise
Sports writing
Podcasting
Sports radio hosting
Copy editing
Rating dogs 1 to 10
FIFA 2015 Ultimate Team
Certifications
Professional Basketball Writers Association member
Education
University of Arizona — Bachelor’s degree in communications
Glendale Community College — Associate’s degree in psychology
Desert Sage Elementary School — Three-time Field Day Free-Throw Competition winner
Achievements & Awards
Extensively covered and podcasted about the Phoenix Suns since 2014
Followed the Suns on the road during the 2021 NBA Finals run and subsequent playoff appearances
Credentialed for and covered the Diamondbacks’ 2023 postseason through to the World Series
Exchanged eye contact and a head nod with Emma Stone when she was at a Suns game that one time
Social Media Profiles
X: @KellanOlson
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 28, 2024Suns’ Royce O’Neale exits with ankle injury, doesn’t return
Phoenix Suns wing Royce O'Neale exited Saturday's contest against the Golden State Warriors with a left ankle injury and was later ruled out.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 27, 2024Suns doomed by rare flat offensive outing in loss to Mavericks
The Phoenix Suns have been able to lean on stellar offensive efficiency to brave recent woes, so they predictably looked hopeless in Friday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 26, 2024Suns relocate necessary energy to beat Nuggets on Christmas
The largest stage of the regular season sparked the Phoenix Suns back to the energy they need to be playing with in a 110-100 Christmas night win over the Denver Nuggets.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 23, 2024Suns’ slow burn tumbling down standings continues vs. Nuggets
The Phoenix Suns are another few weeks away from seriously jeopardizing their 2024-25 season, setting the table for a dramatic roster shakeup within the next seven months if not enough changes in their play.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 21, 2024Maddening mistakes pile up again for Suns in loss to Pistons
The Phoenix Suns' ineptitude from last season has bled over into this year, changes be damned. New coach, new point guards, better depth, same issues.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 19, 2024Injuries to Suns’ Big 3, defensive regression continue in loss to Pacers
There is no reason to believe the Suns' most important three players can all stay healthy enough this season to allow them to properly build.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 15, 2024Suns win another game in kickoff for favorable portion of schedule
In a portion of the schedule the Phoenix Suns must take advantage of, they're off to a fine enough start, winning on Sunday over the Portland Trail Blazers.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 8, 2024Suns’ glaring room to grow on display in loss to depleted Magic
Once you peel back a layer of the Phoenix Suns, it has not been a pleasant sight for what has been revealed. In a reveal brought on by stretches without Kevin Durant, that reveal continued in Sunday's 115-110 loss to the Orlando Magic.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Dec 7, 2024Devin Booker’s unusual struggles continue, Suns beat down by Heat
Devin Booker has earned more than beyond the benefit of the doubt when he has the occasional struggles for the Phoenix Suns but that benefit has reached its limit this season after a 121-111 loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Dec 5, 2024Suns squander opportunity at win without Kevin Durant vs. Pelicans
The Phoenix Suns can still be a good basketball team without Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) but they aren't capable of it right now.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Dec 3, 2024Phoenix Suns hold on without Kevin Durant in win over Spurs
In the second year of a Phoenix Suns roster headlined by Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the story continues to be health.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Dec 2, 2024Has former Suns PG Chris Paul done ‘it’ again with the Spurs?
Is Chris Paul leading another surprise turnaround in San Antonio with the Spurs? He very well may be doing the thing, again.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 30, 2024Suns use strong defensive energy to handle Warriors
A backbone strong enough to support the Phoenix Suns even when their stars aren't cooking is how they can be an elite team and we saw a glimpse of that possibility on Saturday in a 113-105 win over the Golden State Warriors.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 27, 2024Suns lose focus against depleted Nets in poor home loss
We've all had those days at the office when we're mentally checked out the day before going on vacation or celebrating a holiday, and that sure looked like what we saw from the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday in a 127-117 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 27, 2024Cam Johnson having career year with Nets ahead of visit vs. Suns
It is once again a homecoming for Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson, albeit far different than the first one.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 27, 2024Suns’ Big 3 gets right back on schedule, cruises by Lakers
The Phoenix Suns picked up right where they left off as a fully loaded roster, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 127-100 in the return of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 26, 2024Kevin Durant returns from calf strain, benefits from Suns’ break
The Phoenix Suns were not fans of an odd quirk in their regular season schedule when they first saw it but it benefitted them by giving Kevin Durant more time to recover.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 25, 2024By all appearances, Cooper Flagg is built to make leap from Duke to No. 1 pick
Cooper Flagg's huge performance in Duke's win at Arizona showed why he's the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Nov 22, 2024No. 17 Arizona outmatched by No. 12 Duke in troubling offensive night
No. 17 Arizona was given a valuable lesson in a 69-55 loss to No. 12 Duke on Friday in Tucson, one it would be wise to learn from ahead of a large jump in conference competition.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 21, 2024Suns lose 5th straight, head into much-needed 5-day break without games
For as much as the Phoenix Suns require some time off physically, the mental aspect of that showed in Wednesday's loss to the New York Knicks.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 18, 2024Shorthanded Suns once again look outmanned in loss to Magic
The shorthanded Phoenix Suns need the break that is coming soon, as they lost their fourth straight game on Monday.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 17, 2024Shorthanded Suns drop heartbreaker at buzzer to Timberwolves
Life without Bradley Beal (left calf strain) and Kevin Durant (left calf strain) keeps getting tougher for the Phoenix Suns after an incredibly difficult to swallow 120-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 15, 2024Devin Booker, Suns offense keep struggling in loss vs. Thunder
The shorthanded Phoenix Suns are going to be stuck in the mud until Devin Booker can lift them out of it and he wasn't capable of doing so in Friday's 99-83 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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EMPIRE OF THE SUNS | Nov 13, 2024Shorthanded Suns put up fight before fading vs. Kings
The Phoenix Suns were shorthanded on the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday and gave you about everything you would want to see in that type of situation.