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Empire of the Suns

Arizona Sports
Phoenix Suns
NBA
Devin Booker
Kevin Durant
Bradley Beal
NBA Playoffs
NBA Draft
Minnesota Timberwolves
Western Conference
Jalen Green
Sacramento Kings
Dallas Mavericks
Dillon Brooks
Portland Trail Blazers
Basketball
Houston Rockets
Mark Williams
Oklahoma City Thunder
Frank Vogel
Jimmy Butler

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes101Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BasketballNewsSportsSports News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Empire of the Suns

Latest Episodes

Sam Vecenie joined Kellan Olson to discuss the Phoenix Suns' young players and why they might be off to a rough start.

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A report surfaced that the Phoenix Suns are frustrated over the lack of a point guard brewing in the locker room. What does that mean? What lineup changes could happen down the road? And yeah, we'll throw out some potential trade targets just for fun... more

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It's hard to take much away from the Phoenix Suns' loss to the Blazers that opened the 2026-27 season. But it doesn't make us feel better about preseason worries about this team. How concerning was Miles Bridges' debut as a Sun, Khaman Maluach's debu... more

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Luke Kennard might be fine. He could be hurt. But it led us to worry about the Phoenix Suns' 3-point efficiency and volume, especially when it comes to Devin Booker. Kellan takes a deep dive into Booker's pull-up numbers, and we look at the strides w... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sam Vecenie
NBA draft and college basketball analyst and host of Game Theory
Barstool Sports
Episode: Sam Vecenie offers insight on Suns’ struggles and young core
Nigel Hayes Davis
Professional basketball player and member of the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
Episode: Suns formally move on from the Big 3 era: 2025-26 Media day recap
Sam Cooper
Guest from The Timeline podcast
The Timeline
Episode: Reaction to the Phoenix Suns firing Mike Budenholzer with Sam Cooper from The Timeline
Damon Allred
Part-time web content editor and NBA Draft enthusiast
ArizonaSports.com
Episode: The big 2024 NBA Draft preview: Do Suns swing big or play it safe?

Hosts

Kevin Zimmerman
Co-host; analysis and reactions for Empire of the Suns; based in Arizona.
Kellan Olson
Co-host; welcomes listeners, introduces topics, and drives analysis; Arizona-based.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 185 ratings
  • Great podcast

    Great show !! Love great conversation and complete honesty and opinions. go suns !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pauletta602
    United States3 years ago
  • Beat writers rock!

    Kellan and Kevin know what is happening and they know how to talk hoop!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mr.Vankirk
    United States3 years ago
  • Great Suns Pod

    Nough said.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mike Shumway
    United States3 years ago
  • Snooze Fest

    There’s not a lot of stimulating content that comes from this podcast. Plus, I’ve been to mortuaries with more energy than Kellan and Kevin

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    tjatua
    United States4 years ago
  • Rally The Valley and a Nap

    Good local AZ pod about Suns basketball and the hosts constantly talking about how tired they are and need a day off.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bradleyx43
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong roster and draft breakdowns that are useful for fans and sponsors.
Consistent, thoughtful analysis without overreacting to every game.
A few listeners feel the pace can be monotone or slow at times.
Polished, data-driven Suns insight with clear affinity for local context.
Well-regarded for credible take and deep knowledge of Suns dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#163
United Kingdom/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#217
Australia/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#53
Ireland/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#70
Brazil/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#107
Mexico/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#125
Taiwan/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sam Vecenie offers insight on Suns’ struggles and young core
Q: What have you seen from him in this role where it seems too big for him right now?
Vecenie says Maluach has the potential to be a long-term NBA player and a solid backup center, but his hands and inexperience make the current role too demanding.
Sam Vecenie offers insight on Suns’ struggles and young core
Q: Just what have you seen so far to keep it bland and start there with the Suns so far that's let you down?
Vecenie says the Suns have replaced players who helped win possessions and create spacing with more talented players who fit the team's style less well, weakening their rebounding, ball security, and three-point attack.
Luke Kennard getting dinged up brings up a worry about the Suns' pull-up 3-point shooting
Q: Would Dunn be starting over Bridges at some point, so they can have some scoring off the bench with Bridges coming off the bench?
The hosts think a change is possible, but say contracts and shooting concerns make Dunn replacing Bridges as a starter unlikely for now. They note that Dunn could become a candidate for a starting role if he returns to his rookie form and improves.
A pre-NBA deadline Q&A: Jimmy Butler and other Suns trade options
Q: If you were in charge of the Suns, would you explore trading Tyus for draft capital since there's realistically no chance he's back next season?
Yes, though there are doubts about the return value, as he has become less crucial in the current setup and trading him might be worth considering for draft picks.
A pre-NBA deadline Q&A: Jimmy Butler and other Suns trade options
Q: Who is a player within NERC's salary that you think would actually be worth attaching a first round pick to in order to acquire him?
There isn't a clear player that stands out as worth attaching a first round pick to within NERC's salary range because most of them don't significantly improve the Suns' situation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Empire of the Suns

What is Empire of the Suns about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A down-to-earth Suns-focused analysis show led by two Arizona-based hosts who break down roster moves, drafts, Summer League performances, and playoff implications with data-driven rigor and local context. Episodes frequently thread together on-court performance, front-office decisions, and salary-cap considerations, while balancing fan sentiment and practical timelines for development. The format tends to combine quick reactions with deeper strategic discussion, and occasional sponsor reads, all anchored in a shared passion for Phoenix basketball. Noteworthy is the strong regional lens, transparent methodology, and willingness to entertain ambitious trade scenarios without losing sight of culture and development. Potential listeners will f... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Empire of the Suns?

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How many listeners does Empire of the Suns get?

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How many subscribers and views does Empire of the Suns have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Empire of the Suns has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Empire of the Suns?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Empire of the Suns:

1. The Timeline: A Phoenix Suns Podcast
2. Suns JAM Session Podcast
3. PHNX Suns Podcast
4. Locked On Suns - Daily Podcast On The Phoenix Suns
5. Arizona Sports at Night

How many episodes of Empire of the Suns are there?

Empire of the Suns launched 10 years ago and published 101 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Empire of the Suns?

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What guests have appeared on Empire of the Suns?

Recent guests on Empire of the Suns include:

1. Sam Vecenie
2. Nigel Hayes Davis
3. Sam Cooper
4. Damon Allred

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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