Empire of the Suns

Empire of the Suns

ArizonaSports.com's Kevin Zimmerman and Kellan Olson break down the storylines surrounding the Phoenix Suns every week. From in-depth analysis to breaking news reactions, the Empire of the Suns podcast has you covered for everything Suns.

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Most Recent Episode

Empire of the Suns
Suns' rebound includes a win over Hornets, and the rookies are showing out

The Phoenix Suns responded to their worst loss of the year with two wins, including one against the surging Charlotte Hornets. Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming are standing out, while Jalen Green and Ryan Dunn are trying to find themselves.

00:39:33
Mar 9, 2026 8:22 PM
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More Episodes

Empire of the Suns
Mark Williams' stock is down, Rasheer Fleming's is up for the Suns lately

Phoenix Suns coach Jordan Ott appears aggressive in finding out lineup answers quickly, and we're at a tipping point for Mark Williams in a bad way and Rasheer Fleming in a good way.

00:51:03
Mar 4, 2026 8:3 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks injuries stack up for Suns out of the NBA All-Star break

Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen have already gotten hurt, the Phoenix Suns are still surviving and rookies Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach played meaningful minutes.

00:54:02
Feb 24, 2026 6:46 AM
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Empire of the Suns
Suns duck the tax with Nick Richards trade at the deadline

Nick Richards was dealt in a three-team deal that brings back Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony's contract. What did the Phoenix Suns gain by standing pat, and what else stood out NBA-wide?

00:43:23
Feb 5, 2026 3:12 PM
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Empire of the Suns
How can Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks make the NBA All-Star Game? It's complicated

Dillon Brooks is coming off a career game against the Detroit Pistons, while the Phoenix Suns hope to get Jalen Green back from injury. We talk about Devin Booker's and Brooks' NBA All-Star possibilities and more.

00:37:59
Jan 30, 2026 5:6 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Which Suns have value at the NBA trade deadline?

Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale and others have built strong value on the Phoenix Suns. How tradeable are they? And would the Suns even consider moving them?

00:48:39
Jan 16, 2026 3:12 PM
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Empire of the Suns
As the Suns remain feisty, how will they approach the trade deadline?

The win of the year against the Oklahoma City Thunder was more evidence that the Phoenix Suns will make the postseason. So a month from the trade deadline, how do they approach it?

00:48:02
Jan 8, 2026 2:21 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Soon, the Suns might have the GOOD kind of rotation problems

The Suns beat some struggling Pelicans and Wizards teams before falling to the Cavs. What could their rotations look like once Jalen Green and Grayson Allen are healthy?

00:33:53
Jan 2, 2026 2:57 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Are the Phoenix Suns coming down to Earth?

Dillon Brooks has produced a few whoopsie moments lately, but the Phoenix Suns are still treading water despite individual players, including Devin Booker, finding their first ruts of 2025-26.

00:23:53
Dec 19, 2025 1:24 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Great-vibes Suns win over T-Wolves precedes clunker against Thunder

The Phoenix Suns stole another game they probably should not have against the Minnesota Timberwolves before getting clobbered by the Oklahoma City Thunder. You could say they're in a holding pattern until Devin Booker and Jalen Green can return.

00:27:59
Dec 11, 2025 2:42 PM
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Empire of the Suns
The Suns are good! Really!

Devin Booker has gone down with an injury, but the Phoenix Suns have showed they might be able to stay afloat behind hot starts from Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie.

00:40:36
Dec 3, 2025 9:0 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Suns' roster atrophy hits a limit in loss to Rockets

Devin Booker has had a rough go of late, but the Phoenix Suns' bench has kept things relatively afloat more than we thought possible. A review of a loss to the Houston Rockets and a look ahead to, yes, NBA Cup standings.

00:36:11
Nov 25, 2025 2:40 PM
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Empire of the Suns
A crazy gameplan helped the Suns rebound from a loss in a big way

A blown lead against the Atlanta Hawks led to a loss, but the Phoenix Suns rebounded against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was a good sign about this team's toughness, but it also said a lot about how the coaching staff thinks.

00:40:12
Nov 19, 2025 3:7 PM
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Empire of the Suns
The Suns are fun. Are they good?

The Phoenix Suns are 8-5 and appear to have a clear identity. They shoot threes and are top 10 in offense and defense. Devin Booker is back. Dillon Brooks is hilarious. Now it's about whether that can keep up.

00:51:05
Nov 14, 2025 1:45 PM
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Empire of the Suns
The win vs. the Spurs gave the Suns credibility

As the Jalen Green debut nears, the Phoenix Suns have found some traction in the past week with Devin Booker picking his spots and Mark Williams in the starting lineup.

00:35:54
Nov 5, 2025 7:13 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Phoenix Suns leave a lot of room for improvement 4 games in

Are the Phoenix Suns the gritty, fiesty, defensive team they said they would be? Through a 1-3 start, they're hitting only some of the marks and only sometimes. It's a long season, but there are many questions they've yet to answer.

00:35:10
Oct 28, 2025 5:31 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Suns ready to lean on Devin Booker: 2025-26 preseason review and a season preview

Devin Booker is the man. Jalen Green and Mark Williams have been slow-rolled. Which rookies and young guys stood out in the preseason and how will they impact the 2025-26 Phoenix Suns?

00:41:18
Oct 17, 2025 12:2 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Suns formally move on from the Big 3 era: 2025-26 Media day recap

Devin Booker has unfinished business, coach Jordan Ott and GM Brian Gregory have already hit the ground running and now it's time for the Phoenix Suns to implement schemes and expectations after they - gasp - have spent a lot of time with each other before official practices begin.

00:18:53
Sep 24, 2025 10:24 PM
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Empire of the Suns
We're back after a hiatus, and Suns training camp is here

With media day set for Wednesday, Kellan Olson and Kevin Zimmerman are back as the Phoenix Suns ramp up for 2025-26 with a weird, reset roster. 

00:17:29
Sep 23, 2025 8:29 AM
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Empire of the Suns
Bradley Beal is gone, and a 2025 Suns Summer League review

Bradley Beal is gone but the Phoenix Suns still have roster questions. Plus, we recap the four Summer League games where Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro stood out.

00:51:29
Jul 17, 2025 10:27 PM
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Empire of the Suns
2025 NBA Draft review: The Suns have a crop with Maluach, Fleming and Brea

The Phoenix Suns have more moves to make, but their 2025 NBA Draft haul of Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming and Koby Brea is a promising crop, especially considering the moves made to get those players.

00:34:50
Jun 26, 2025 9:46 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Suns draft Khaman Maluach and trade for Mark Williams

The Phoenix Suns double-dipped at center by picking Khaman Maluach 10th and trading for Mark Williams. Kellan Olson and Kevin Zimmerman are joined by Luke Lapinski and Mitch Vareldzis as part of Arizona Sports' live draft special.

00:23:56
Jun 25, 2025 9:9 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Who could the Phoenix Suns pick at No. 10 in the 2025 NBA Draft?

Collin Murray-Boyles, Thomas Sorber and more are potential options for the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft. It's tomorrow. So let's cram!

00:56:01
Jun 24, 2025 3:11 PM
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Empire of the Suns
Kevin Durant is a Rocket, and the Suns' return in the trade is confounding

The Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, whose package in exchange included Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and picks, leaving the Suns with an out-of-balance roster.

00:34:04
Jun 22, 2025 1:36 PM
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Empire of the Suns
2025 NBA Draft preview as a Kevin Durant trade lingers

Who could fit the Phoenix Suns in the 2025 NBA Draft if they stick at No. 29? What if they move into the top 10 with a Kevin Durant trade?

00:45:57
Jun 16, 2025 3:41 PM
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