Kellan Olson
Verified- Editor and Reporter, KMVP-FM (Phoenix, AZ)
- Co-Host, Empire of the Suns
- Host, Arizona Sports at Night
Arizona
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Kellan Olson
Does NBA have tangible solutions if it looks into tweaks to reduce injuries?
PHOENIX — Another start of an NBA season filled with injuries sparked more discourse and dialogue on how much the sport has changed and if the league, as a result, will have to change to keep its players healthier. This debate has been going on for a handful of years. The league has continued to come out and diffuse a tone of urgency from attempts at deeper investigations into the number and types of injuries.
Suns still searching for breakthrough, lose 3rd straight to Warriors
The Phoenix Suns got off to a concerning 1-4 start last year before becoming one of the feel-good stories of the NBA season. After Tuesday’s 116-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors, here they sit once more at 1-4. This time it feels different, primarily due to expectations. With so much made about Phoenix’s continuity and cohesion going into the year, the Suns will instead have to spend the beginning portions of the season figuring out how to jell.
Suns find ‘building block’ in loss to Nuggets, 3 players score at least 20
PHOENIX — Friday night was a step forward for both the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, but Denver took the bigger one in a 127-120 Suns loss. Denver (3-2) arrived in Phoenix (1-3) with a similar vibe of its opposition. The Nuggets’ two wins came against the lowly New Orleans Pelicans, one of which required a Pelicans meltdown to force an overtime period Denver ultimately snatched up.
Three early concerns for the Suns to improve on
It is not time to significantly shift your preseason perception of the Phoenix Suns based on how they have played to begin this season. At the end of the day, three games are just three games. This initial offering, though, has not been pretty in the slightest. If you had concerns about the Suns building off their 45-win campaign last year, those worries probably remain. Perhaps more have built up. There is a whole lot of time left for the Suns to figure things out.
Suns unable to pounce on vulnerable Thunder in loss, Devin Booker scores 3
Even with golden opportunities like Monday’s depleted Oklahoma City Thunder roster, the Phoenix Suns are not functionating nearly well enough at the start of the year to be able to capitalize on them. Monday’s 125-114 loss was definitive and also not the type of growth moment it could have been.
Suns unable to pounce on vulnerable Thunder in loss
Even with golden opportunities like Monday’s depleted Oklahoma City Thunder roster, the Phoenix Suns are not functionating nearly well enough at the start of the year to be able to capitalize on them. Monday’s 125-114 loss was definitive and also not the type of growth moment it could have been.
Devin Booker attempts to silence alarm bells with 43 points in messy Suns win
PHOENIX — The NBA can be funny, because the Phoenix Suns were somehow as close to a must-win game No. 2 of the season as I can remember. Saturday’s 131-122 final against the Golden State Warriors was indeed a win, but it was nowhere in the galaxy of the type of effort to quell worries following a 41-point disaster of a loss in the season opener versus the Portland Trail Blazers.
Suns forget they are the ‘try-hard team’ in blowout opening loss
You didn’t get the sense last year that the Phoenix Suns totally loved how they were described as a team that won primarily because of their all-out effort, wanting more credit instead for their overall talent, but Wednesday’s season-opening 124-83 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers was a good reminder of who they have to be. Portland scored the first 21 points of the game. Phoenix didn’t get on the board until 6:05 had passed, and its first field goal came at the 4:28 mark.
Suns among NBA teams with ‘young-old’ veterans leading locker room
PHOENIX — “Hmmm. Trick question, eh?” Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott was one of many members of the team asked to name who the oldest player on the roster is. His squad is one of many in the NBA that has gone away from what is now a past-time of the league, the wily old veteran as a locker room presence and nothing more. Another way of looking at it is a lot of organizations do not feel anymore that a certain number of elder statesmen are required in order for a unit to function properly.
Suns remain secretive about naming new starting center
PHOENIX — Dishonesty! Deception! Subterfuge! That is my sarcastic tone of buzz words for how Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott is going about naming a new starting center, as the coach had previously stated a timeframe around Monday would be when he announced it, only for him to now play the game of keeping it close to the vest.
Why is Devin Booker not a better shooter?
PHOENIX — It just doesn’t make any damn sense. Devin Booker, the guy with arguably the prettiest jumper in the game of basketball today, is not a good shooter. The No. 13 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft came out of Kentucky known for his high IQ, competitive motor and sharpshooting after making 41% of his 3s for the Wildcats. Since then, Booker has never reached 40% in the pros, rarely even coming close. His career number of 35.2% is a complete shocker every time you see it.
Suns end preseason with offensive pros, cons flashing vs. Jazz
PHOENIX — Friday was a luxury for the Phoenix Suns and head coach Jordan Ott, a great matchup for them to get some real run in the preseason finale, one that ended as a 119-116 loss to the Utah Jazz. Before we get there, there were two notable absences. Luke Kennard (left knee tendon strain) and Oso Ighodaro (hip soreness) were both out. Kennard left Wednesday’s game after aggravating his knee. Ighodaro should be fine for the opener, while Kennard is more of a wait-and-see situation.
Khaman Maluach fares well with Wembanyama matchup in Suns preseason
PHOENIX — Khaman Maluach is going to improve with every opportunity he gets, and even the preseason on Saturday presented one that he ended up taking advantage of. In the Phoenix Suns’ 102-98 preseason win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, Maluach started and provided 10 points, 15 rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes, some of which came against Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama. “Tonight I thought overall was his best performance,” head coach Jordan Ott said of Maluach.
Early Suns preseason takeaways include pace, rotation clues and free throws
Eight quarters of preseason basketball isn’t much to glean from, right? Right? Wrong! We’ve got some initial observations to dive deeper into on the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns. Let’s springboard right in. The Suns look like they’ll pick up the tempo Preseason, let alone the first month of the season, will include teams adapting a playstyle they set as a goal. They will mostly achieve this initially before an inevitable tailing off comes at some point in the year.
‘I was ready to kill him’: Dillon Brooks’ unique mentoring pushes Suns
PHOENIX — While the media is tucked away in a corner of the Phoenix Suns’ practice facility, Dillon Brooks saunters across two empty courts on his way out the door. He sees to his left that Oso Ighodaro is speaking in the scrum, and he can’t help himself. Brooks bellows out a nickname toward Ighodaro, and it echoes through the large, otherwise barren room.
Devin Booker’s largest challenge of career comes this season
PHOENIX — “We’re just going to have to see.” That was Devin Booker’s answer to the biggest question of the Phoenix Suns season, all with a pause before that was later followed by a smile, a smile indicating that’s the best he’s got right now until the ball goes up in the air on Oct. 21. Booker will start that season opener in Portland with Miles Bridges, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, three players that contribute the best offensively as a scorer first.
Suns’ elite bench is heartbeat of team, biggest strength
PHOENIX — It was a chore last year to compliment the Phoenix Suns’ bench, because they were never on the bench. Fifty missed games for Jalen Green, 31 for Grayson Allen, 26 for Dillon Brooks, 22 for Mark Williams and 18 for Devin Booker forced the Suns’ reserves to take on much larger roles than Phoenix could have ever imagined for them coming into the season. Time after time, they delivered.
Khaman Maluach made ‘big leap’ in offseason Suns will need
PHOENIX — Devin Booker does not go out of his way to set expectations for his teammates or team at the start of the season but the Phoenix Suns’ face of the franchise did that in a way by saying at media day on Monday that second-year center Khaman Maluach has made the biggest leap of anyone on the team this summer. “He’s way ahead of the curve just to be going into his second year,” Booker said.
Cardinals elevate Starling Thomas V for CB help, send Will Johnson to IR
The Arizona Cardinals are promoting cornerback Starling Thomas V from the practice squad and sending Will Johnson to injured reserve. Johnson has a neck injury that could sideline him for the rest of the season, sidelining one of Arizona’s two starting corners on the outside. The other, Max Melton, is also injured with a day-to-day designation. The impending return of nickelback Garrett Williams would allow Denzel Burke to move back to the outside after he covered for Williams on the inside.
Arizona Cardinals run game off to concerning start 2 games in
GLENDALE — While there is a lot to be excited about with the offensive potential of the Arizona Cardinals, the unit is going nowhere until it figures out the ground game. Through two weeks, Arizona grades amongst the worst in the NFL, and a 31-7 loss on Sunday was an upset in the making had the Cardinals been able to manage an effective rushing attack. The Cardinals got 14 carries for 39 yards from the duo of Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier.
Diamondbacks’ playoff hopes reach despair with 9 games to go
PHOENIX — Across several points in the 2026 season, whether it was following a skid or a backbreaking loss, the Arizona Diamondbacks continued to show tremendous resilience. It is the reason why they are still in the playoff chase in mid-September. So, after Tuesday’s terrible defeat to the Miami Marlins, it felt natural to expect a smooth-bounce back win on Wednesday. That’s going to have to wait at least until the 88-win New York Yankees come to town this weekend. The D-backs lost 4-3 to Miami.
Phoenix Suns sign C Duop Reath for depth after Mark Williams injury
With starting center Mark Williams set to miss several months, the Phoenix Suns have signed center Duop Reath to a contract, per Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro. Gambadoro reports Phoenix was among a handful of teams interested in Reath. Reath spent his last three seasons playing for the Portland Trail Blazers after taking a long road to arrive in the NBA. He went undrafted out of LSU in 2018 before playing overseas in Serbia, Australia, China and Lebanon.
Is Khaman Maluach ready to step up for Suns in Mark Williams’ absence?
The decision to re-sign Mark Williams ultimately told you what the Phoenix Suns thought of Khaman Maluach’s ability to contribute next season, which makes the ripple effects of Williams’ shoulder surgery all the more fascinating. Williams tore the labrum in his left shoulder. Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro places the recovery timeline at several months, a minimum of five.
Is Suns’ wait to re-sign Miles Bridges more for them or him?
The Phoenix Suns offseason produced one bit of preordained contract news in the new three-year extension for Dillon Brooks, but the other expected bit has not come and perhaps will not until later in the season. New addition Miles Bridges, who was acquired from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, has not signed a contract extension yet as a potential unrestricted free agent next summer.
Mercury ‘nowhere near’ defensive standard in loss to Tempo
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury got away from themselves in Tuesday’s 98-90 loss to the Toronto Tempo, getting severely punished for a lack of defensive execution. “For a team that takes pride in its defense we didn’t do what we needed to do tonight,” Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said.
The Phoenix Suns should trade for Zion Williamson
The best front offices operate with an expertise in foresight, seeing the long-term outlook of their franchise at least 18 months in advance with every move of mild importance. This concept is why the Phoenix Suns should trade for Zion Williamson. Now, I can see your brain scrambling a bit already.
Will Suns complete hard work of their Bradley Beal dump this summer?
I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about Bradley Beal in relation to the Phoenix Suns but the unfortunate news is your basketball team did not give you a choice the next few years when they executed the waive-and-stretch last summer. This offseason is Year 2 out of the five that Phoenix will have $19.4 million of his dead money on the books. It automatically turns the yearly transactional period into an obstacle course, requiring agility to avoid either the aprons or the tax entirely.
Can Ketel Marte get luckier, D-backs find old offensive form?
PHOENIX — Tuesday night’s 9-0 Arizona Diamondbacks win over the Pittsburgh Pirates had a welcome sight for the D-backs, and also a tiring one. In the bottom of the first, Ketel Marte smashed a Bubba Chandler fastball 103 mph to left-center for a triple. Welcome! Four innings later, Marte smashed a Chandler changeup 101 mph directly at right fielder Bryan Reynolds. Tiring! Marte has not been productive this season.
Will Mat Ishbia seek out his next big move this Suns offseason?
PHOENIX — Expectations are a dangerous thing, and they have now automatically been set for the Phoenix Suns next season. Whether they like it or not, there are now actual stakes attached to their future. No more house money. No more fun surprises. No more “no one expected them to be here!” thinking. Barring any unforeseen events roster-wise, the Suns should be pushing for a top-six spot in the Western Conference next year.
Suns offseason will have to be dynamic to properly reshape roster
The Phoenix Suns didn’t have enough time to figure out what they had on their hands. By the time a culture and style of play meshed together to electrify the fleeting pulse of the franchise, the harsh mistress known as regression came knocking in February along with even more injuries than before, and a tale of two seasons would ultimately be the story of an unforeseen year.
Suns’ season ends pushing champion Thunder to their best in loss
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns landing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round set up four games where all you could reasonably ask for was a serious fight to be shown, more reminiscent of the first half of the season, and we saw it over a sweep that ended Phoenix’s season. It all culminated with a 131-122 loss to OKC on Monday in Game 4.
Can Suns avoid yet another playoff elimination in Phoenix?
The Phoenix Suns’ last three playoff runs have ended on their home floor, and if there’s anything for them to fight for in Monday’s potential elimination game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s that. The 2024 sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves wasn’t as much an embarrassing game as it was an embarrassing series result, while the surreal nature of the endings to the previous two years that certainly reached those heights do not require further explanation.
Suns face elimination after ruthless SGA masterclass for Thunder
PHOENIX — We talked about the Phoenix Suns needing to be near-perfect, and a big reason why is the Oklahoma City Thunder are led by a guy that is capable of achieving that on a nightly basis, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reached that ceiling in Sunday’s 121-109 Suns loss in Game 3. Phoenix is now down 3-0 in the series and facing elimination on Monday.
Can Suns take advantage of Jalen Williams’ absence for Thunder?
PHOENIX — Lost in the swell of officiating hullabaloo of the Phoenix Suns’ Game 2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder was the biggest momentum shift of the series. Phoenix feigned off a great first half from OKC to be within eight and put up a major fight in the fourth quarter to make the Thunder chain together a few key possessions to avoid dramatics. Through all that, Oklahoma City All-NBA guard Jalen Williams tweaked his left hamstring in the mid-third quarter and didn’t return.
Suns unable to be ‘perfect’ in great fight, loss vs. Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY — Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott, between Games 1 and 2 of the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, found himself a few different times using the word “perfect” to describe certain elements of what his team would have to do to win. That challenge of playing the best was illustrated throughout Wednesday’s 120-107 Game 2 loss. Phoenix trailed by eight after a spirited first half.
Suns have simple adjustments to make for Game 2 vs. Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY — The best adjustment is playing better, and for the fascination with that word around this time of year in the NBA, it’s a worthwhile reminder that natural improvement trumps shrewd tactical maneuvers. That should be the message to the Phoenix Suns ahead of Wednesday’s Game 2 in Oklahoma City against the Thunder, following a 35-point shellacking in Game 1, a contest that was realistically over within 18 minutes.
Suns expectedly overmatched in Game 1 loss to Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s always been more about the Phoenix Suns themselves than their opponent, and that even held true against the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a 119-84 Game 1 loss of the first round. While the expectation was for OKC to win this series in four games, the ability for the Suns to provide resistance would come down to their own execution. So when they failed to take care of the ball, rebound and knock down shots early, this one was over in a hurry.
Devin Booker, Suns forced to overcome past Thunder nightmares
OKLAHOMA CITY — Devin Booker downloaded the quickly-stated question on what the keys will be for his Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder before pausing and laughing. “Everything.” Yep! Oklahoma City is a leviathan, all rested up for Sunday’s Game 1 after the Suns went through a whole lot and a quick turnaround to get here.
Jalen Green carries Suns to playoffs, matchup with Thunder
PHOENIX — You’re always going to get a few of these out of Jalen Green, and boy did the Phoenix Suns get the best timing possible for one of his scoring explosions. Green produced 36 points in 40 minutes on 14-of-20 shooting with eight 3s and played great defense to boot in the Suns’ 111-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday to advance past the play-in tournament and take the eight seed in the playoffs.
Can Suns find composure to advance past Warriors?
PHOENIX — How much will it matter that one team enters Friday coming off the low point of its season while the other has leapt to its highest? The different types of momentum the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors bring into a win-or-go-home finale of the play-in tournament feel too large to ignore. The Warriors could not have been lower coming into Wednesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. Golden State had a record of 25-19 when Jimmy Butler tore his ACL.
Suns swallowed by own chaos, face elimination after loss to Blazers
PHOENIX — Part of what can make the Phoenix Suns great is a completely uncontrollable force of chaos, and it provided the ultimate gift and a curse across the second half of a 114-110 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday that now has them facing elimination. Phoenix will host the play-in tournament’s final game on Friday against the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
Suns, Blazers both get good injury news ahead of play-in matchup
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns’ injury report for Tuesday’s play-in showdown with the Portland Trail Blazers brought good news for both teams. Guard Grayson Allen at least has a shot to play. He is listed as questionable due to left hamstring soreness after tweaking it in Friday’s loss. Allen being able to give it a go would be a huge lift for the Suns. He is the second-best playmaker on the team behind Devin Booker when it comes to being an engine for ball movement.
Suns have to overcome stylistic mismatch for play-in vs. Blazers
Much like two seasons ago when the Phoenix Suns entered the playoffs with a preferable matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was far more important how Phoenix would solve its own issues instead of what the draw was. This time around for the play-in tournament, the same holds true. It doesn’t really matter who the Suns are playing. The only relevant matchup is the one against themselves, a matchup they’ve been losing a whole lot lately.
Suns beat Thunder, continue prep for Blazers play-in matchup
Sometimes the final game of a road trip can naturally lead to distracting thoughts of home but those were very valid for the Phoenix Suns on Sunday in a 135-103 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Phoenix had a good idea it would be hosting the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday for the right to be the seventh seed in the playoffs, and that was confirmed after Portland beat the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Suns unable to avoid injuries in meaningless loss to Lakers
The Phoenix Suns leaned in favor of trying to establish rhythm in head coach Jordan Ott’s “rhythm vs. rest” proposition for how to approach the final two regular season games, and he also added an asterisk that health was above anything else. So that made the results of Friday’s meaningless 101-73 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers a failure.
Should Suns prefer Clippers or Blazers as play-in opponent?
The Phoenix Suns are going to be far more interested in a game going on elsewhere Friday while they take on the Los Angeles Lakers. The Portland Trail Blazers will host the Los Angeles Clippers, and the winner will likely take the eight seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament to face the Suns on Tuesday. A Clippers win clinches it, while the Blazers would then have to also beat the tanking Sacramento Kings on Sunday to secure their fate.
Suns get uninspiring win vs. Mavericks to secure No. 7 seed for play-in
PHOENIX — After exceeding even the highest of expectations and pacing for 50 wins through over half the season, once it became clear the regressing Phoenix Suns would be a play-in team, the hope for them was relocating that previous form before the tournament began. That has not and will not be happening.
Suns fade after fiery start vs. Rockets in Durant’s return
PHOENIX — It was fun while it lasted in a 119-105 Phoenix Suns loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. The return of Kevin Durant to the Valley, Jalen Green’s first game against his former team and Dillon Brooks facing a team that traded him brought a ton of energy and intensity to the gym, a jolt to the Suns’ system that was sorely needed after abysmal energy the last week and decaying form the last two-plus months.
Kevin Durant holds little ‘sentimental value’ in return to Phoenix
PHOENIX — It took a lot longer than usual, but Kevin Durant made his return to Phoenix with four games left in the regular season and spoke for the first time in the Valley since he was traded to the Houston Rockets last June. The Phoenix Suns host the Rockets on Tuesday in a nationally televised primetime showdown with plenty of storylines, thanks some to Durant missing Houston’s first game in Phoenix back in late November for a personal matter.
Suns’ ugly slog continues with narrow win over Bulls
The Phoenix 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. It took them to a narrow 120-110 win over a depleted Chicago Bulls team on Sunday. Matas Buzelis (illness), Josh Giddey (left hamstring injury management), Anfernee Simons (left wrist fracture), Zach Collins (right toe surgery), Nick Richards (right toe sprain) and Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) were out for Chicago.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Kellan
Contact Kellan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack