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 | Apr 8, 2026Suns get uninspiring win vs. Mavericks to secure No. 7 seed for play-in
The Suns' win over the Mavericks was not all that inspiring, even though it resulted in Phoenix clinching the seventh seed for the play-in tournament.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Apr 8, 2026Suns fade after fiery start vs. Rockets in Durant’s return
The Suns' extreme shortcomings as a roster continue to show more and more as the year comes to a close, most recently in a loss to the Rockets where a fiery start wasn't sustained.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Apr 7, 2026Kevin Durant holds little ‘sentimental value’ in return to Phoenix
Former Suns F Kevin Durant doesn't feel too sentimental returning to Phoenix for the first time since getting traded.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Apr 5, 2026Suns’ ugly slog continues with narrow win over Bulls
The Suns are what they are now, a team disinterested in defensive effort and more interested in just seeing where their offense can take them on any given night. On Sunday, that was to a narrow win vs. the shorthanded Bulls.
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ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | Apr 3, 2026Diamondbacks waste another Eduardo Rodriguez gem vs. Braves, offensive output needs jolt
This Diamondbacks season might be defined by glaring team weaknesses overshadowing individual brilliance following another wasted Eduardo Rodriguez outing.
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ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS | Apr 3, 2026D-backs’ outfield options get even thinner without Jordan Lawlar
It didn't take long for an injury to alter the Diamondbacks' plans in 2026, with Jordan Lawlar breaking his wrist and the outfield being stretched further.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Apr 2, 2026Suns’ defensive identity remains M.I.A. in loss to Hornets
The Suns have to forfeit the title they worked so hard to claim halfway through the season as the hardest-working team in the NBA, as Thursday's loss to the Hornets was the latest example of a defensive identity gone missing.
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Apr 2, 2026Can Arizona dictate physicality, get to foul line vs. Michigan in Final Four?
Will Arizona and Michigan be able to swing the physicality in their favor to get to the championship game?
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Apr 1, 2026Arizona’s Final Four edge over Michigan comes in the backcourt
Arizona can win the Final Four matchup with Michigan at guard, where questions remain for the Wolverines.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Mar 31, 2026Suns’ new bad habits persist in Dillon Brooks’ return, loss to Magic
Tuesday's Phoenix Suns loss to the Orlando Magic was on tap to be a change in energy with the return of Dillon Brooks and instead was more of the same.
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Mar 31, 2026Arizona-Michigan Final Four tilt a dream duel of frontcourts
The Arizona Wildcats and Michigan Wolverines have the two best frontcourts in the country, and they will face off in the Final Four.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Mar 30, 2026Suns sleepwalk defensively, do enough to beat Grizzlies
The Phoenix Suns' final score on Monday did not come close to accurately representing their effort in Monday's win.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Mar 30, 2026Do Suns have enough time to find balance with Brooks, Green?
With Dillon Brooks nearing his return, can the Phoenix Suns use the last two weeks of the season to figure out how their team all works together?
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Mar 28, 2026Arizona exorcises Elite Eight demons, goes to Final Four with more left to do
The biggest break the Arizona Wildcats got in Saturday's Elite Eight exorcism over Purdue is that none of their players felt all the added weight of a "here we go again" first half.
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Mar 27, 2026Arizona’s balance matches Purdue’s with Final Four berth on the line
Arizona is one game away from its first Final Four in 25 years, and the Wildcats will get there if it sticks to what got them here.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Mar 25, 2026Suns’ play-in fate looks sealed after loss to Nuggets
Whether you take more stock in the result or how the result occurred, the Phoenix Suns look play-in-bound after Tuesday's loss to the Denver Nuggets.
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Mar 24, 2026Can Arizona ward off a true blue blood in UNC and hold onto Tommy Lloyd?
Hubert Davis is out after five seasons. Has Tommy Lloyd had enough success in Tucson to swat away at the notion of joining a true blue blood in North Carolina?
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Mar 24, 2026Can Arizona stop another All-American in Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr.?
The Arizona Wildcats have played several likely top-10 picks. Their Sweet 16 test makes it necessity to stop Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Mar 22, 2026Suns snap losing streak to get back in final sprint of playoff race
How much of Sunday's win over the Toronto Raptors was the Phoenix Suns getting back to what they do best will determine if they still have enough left in these last 10 games to still push for the playoffs.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Mar 17, 2026Suns keep on leaking in 3rd straight loss vs. Timberwolves
The Phoenix Suns are a leaking ship, and that's not to say they will sink to the bottom of the sea, but they cannot plug up all of their current holes at once.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Mar 16, 2026Suns stumble in crunch time again, lose to Celtics
The Phoenix Suns' last two games (and losses) will be the ones to think about if they finish one or two back of a playoff spot.
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Mar 15, 2026Arizona’s NCAA Tournament draw includes early ease, major threats later
How tough is the NCAA Tournament draw for Arizona to make its first Final Four in a quarter-century? A preview of the West Region.
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PHOENIX SUNS | Mar 13, 2026Suns’ shot-making fizzles late in loss to Raptors
Suns get another big scoring night from Devin Booker and Jalen Green, but the shot-making fizzled late in Phoenix's 122-115 loss to the Raptors.
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ARIZONA WILDCATS BASKETBALL | Mar 13, 2026Upset watch? Who Arizona should look out for on Selection Sunday
Who should Arizona be worried about the most on Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament?