Kobe Bryant

Desperate measures

Racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio slams the Suns' Shaquille O'Neal in lame publicity-grab.

Pray for a Miracle: Lakers at Suns Tonight

We were listening to a sports-radio roundtable recently, and the panelists were picking their faves to win the NBA title. Boston again. Good bet. San Antonio. Yeah, but only if Manu Ginobli gets healthy and back to full speed. New Orleans. With Chris Paul in charge, check. Here’s where it gets ... More >>

Last Night's Phoenix Suns Game Almost Made Us Miss Mike D'Antoni

Earth to Suns Coach Terry Porter: Shaq's an old man. You can't play down to his level. After last night's drubbing by the Los Angeles Lakers, we almost missed departed (for the New York Knicks) Coach Mike D'Antoni. Hey, we said almost. The jury's still out on whether Porter's a legitimate NBA ... More >>

Hope for the Phoenix Suns was Reborn Against Portland -- Despite 18 Turn-Overs

It's about the fast-break points, stupid! The Phoenix Suns, though way off last year's pace, had six in their weekend game against the Portland Trail Blazers. We wouldn't say they dominated the Blazers, but they held on to win at home 102-92. In other words, hope was reborn, after the Suns' em ... More >>

Into the Hornets Nest: Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Tonight

After the surprising New Orleans Hornets elbowed their way into the conversation last season, it's like every NBA analyst starting taking lessons from Jan Brady of The Brady Bunch. Paul, Paul, Paul! That's pretty much all you ever hear about the Hornets -- praise for their jet-fueled point guard, ... More >>

Return of the Joker: Shaq-Less Suns at L.A. Lakers Tonight

98-119. 115-122. 106-98. 124-130. 92-105. Alas, these are not Steve Kerr's winning lottery numbers. They're actually grim statistics reflecting an alarming trend: the full-on revival of the Los Angeles Lakers as a major pain in the Phoenix Suns' butt. And they may be an even bigger pain in th ... More >>

Temporarily Depleted by the Monster Trade, Suns Still Give Lakers All They Can Handle in L.A.

Down three players, the Phoenix Suns played toe to toe with the Los Angeles Lakers for four quarters before losing 115-110 at Staples Center. With the usual assortment of show-biz types in attendance Wednesday night, the Suns, with just eight players available, looked much better ... More >>

Loss Angeles: Phoenix Suns vs. Star-Crossed Clippers on Sunday Afternoon

It's the best of times and the worst of times for the Angeleno sports fan. There's still no NFL, and none on the near horizon, which seems to bother the NFL more than it does L.A. Jack Nicholson's once again grinning like a pre-lobotomy Randle Patrick McMurphy since his pet franchise, the Lakers ... More >>

What Does it Mean? Phoenix Suns Lose and Win Against Terrible Teams

You know what it means that the Suns blew out the Sacramento Kings 129-81 at US Airways Center Monday night? Nothing. The Kings are 11-39, officially the third-worst team in the NBA at 11-39 (the L.A. Clippers and the Washington Wizards are tied for worst at 10-38). Running them out of the gym ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Play Lousy Defense as Still Another Bad Team Stomps Them

It's past time for the Suns to panic. But they can't muster up enough energy to even care whether another sub-.500 team blows them out. Pride?  Apparently they have none. Is it that they hate Coach Terry Porter, he of the long practices, clich'ed press conferences,  ... More >>

2009 NBA All-Star Game: Defense (For a Change), Jumpshots, and Forced Drama

Kobe and Shaq are once again BFF. Awwww. The only thing the sports media love more than a good feud is a half-assed gesture to end it under meaningless circumstances. So it was that Kobe and Shaq were forced to awkwardly hoist a trophy together at the 2009 NBA All-Star game, just as they did ... More >>

Hot Links: Obama Coming to Mesa; Terry Porter Out as Suns Coach; Taser Wins Patent Lawsuit

  President Obama's putting Mesa on the map -- for a few days, anyway -- with his planned Wednesday visit to a high school, and hundreds of people camp out for a chance to see him. We figured as much: Sources report that Terry Porter is history as the Phoenix Suns ... More >>

Good Riddance: Terry Porter's Officially Fired, but Could it be Shaq Who Now Goes Instead of Amar'e?

Well, it's official. Phoenix Suns head coach Terry Porter was fired today and replaced (on an interim basis) with long-time Phoenix assistant and former Los Angeles Clippers head coach Alvin Gentry (pictured). "I hired Terry because I believed he would be able to provide the balance o ... More >>

Okay, Stoudemire's Staying With the Phoenix Suns, and so's Shaq -- at Least for the Remainder of the Season

The NBA trade deadline passed at 1 p.m. today with no Phoenix Suns players moved -- not even Amar'e Stoudemire (whose departure seemed all but a done deal last week). Suns brass had been admitting for a month that they were entertaining trade offers for every member of the team e ... More >>

Beat L.A.: Potential First-Round NBA Playoff Preview Tonight at Staples Center

www.nba.comKobe Bryant With a 4-1 record in the Alvin Gentry era, the Phoenix Suns are winning the games they're supposed to win. However, they're still faltering against the NBA's elite, evident by Sunday's ass-whopping against the defending champion Boston Celtics. But that's ok. The reason Terr ... More >>

Orange Crushed: Suns Fall in La-La Land, Meet Lakers Again Sunday, Toronto Tonight

www.nba.com Lamar Odom: "The Goods" played out of his skull in L.A. last night. For a precious few minutes  in the first quarter of last night's Suns/Lakers game in La-La Land, the Suns held their own against the NBA's best. No, it was better than that. They were rolling, running, g ... More >>

Shaq Has His Biggest Weekend Since He was With L.A., as the Phoenix Suns Crush Toronto and Beat the Lakers

Shaq played like he was this kid's age over the weekend.What a weekend for Planet Orange, and its largest inhabitant! We're beginning to think of the Phoenix Suns as a planet again, after back-to-back victories against the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airway ... More >>

Kobe: Doin' Work

Shaq played like he was this kid's age over the weekend.What a weekend for Planet Orange, and its largest inhabitant! We're beginning to think of the Phoenix Suns as a planet again, after back-to-back victories against the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airway ... More >>

All-Star Schedule

Shaq played like he was this kid's age over the weekend.What a weekend for Planet Orange, and its largest inhabitant! We're beginning to think of the Phoenix Suns as a planet again, after back-to-back victories against the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airway ... More >>

Inner Booty

Wouldn’t it feel good to own Kobe’s butt for one more afternoon?

Pass the Blowtorch

Wouldn’t it feel good to own Kobe’s butt for one more afternoon?

There's Something About Larry

Can Suns bring home the hardware? Yes. Here's how.

A Bunch of Bull

Chi-town high risers visit PHX with tails between their legs

Phoenix Suns Finish Season With Second-Best Record of Any Team Not Making the Playoffs in NBA History

www.nba.com For the first time in his career, Grant Hill played in all 82 regular-season games. He had 27 points against Golden State last night.The Suns set in the West on Wednesday evening. And they dropped below the horizion with a purple and orange glow, beating the Golden Stat ... More >>

His Airness Writ Large

To the Max satisfies if you're missing Michael Jordan

Forget the Alamo: Arizona Cardinals Must Whup Hubris and the Houston Texans to Salvage Their Season

If Beanie can hold on to the ball, expect a breakout day for the rookie RB against the Texans.​ Three years ago, Suns fans considered Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers their personal bitches. Two years ago, D-Backers openly lampooned the hapless, pre-Joe Torre L.A. Dodgers. Last year, Arizon ... More >>

Sheriff Shaq? Former Suns Big Man Applies To Be Deputized in Cleveland

www.dimemag.com​Shaquille O'Neal, the "Big Shaquisition" as he is now being called by Cavs fans, is hoping to become a deputized police officer in Ohio as he was in Florida, Virginia, and of course, Arizona.After being traded from the Suns to the Cavs back in June, Shaq has applied to become a spe ... More >>

It Was a Good Old-Fashioned Beat-Down, and (Damn!) it Was the Suns Doin' the Beatin'. Next Up: the Lakers Tonight.

suns.com Lou Amundson's in-your-face block in the second quarter was symbolic of the whipping the Suns gave the Hornets.​Man, we've waited a long time for this! The Phoenix Suns dominated Chris Paul and New Orleans from the start at US Airways Center last night and wound up blowing ou ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Stomped by Los Angeles Lakers in Lopsided Loss. Next Up: Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

www.nba.comKobe Bryant and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers proved why they're the defending NBA champions in last night's defeat of the Phoenix Suns.​Welcome back to reality, Phoenix Suns fans. After your team amassed a surprising 8-1 record over the past two weeks (including spectacular wins ... More >>

Suns Survive Sacramento Kings, Get Destroyed By Los Angeles Lakers In Weekend Action. Up Next: Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday

www.nba.comKobe Bryant continued to make the Phoenix Suns his personal bitches last night. The Phoenix Suns have developed two rather distinct personalities so into the 2009-2010 season. There's the straight ballers that dismantle feeble opponents and occasionally squeak out tough, hard fought win ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Get Sweet Revenge With Dominanting Win Over the Los Angeles Lakers. Up Next: Boston Celtics on Wednesday

Dudley scored 19 points in Phoenix's rout of the Lakers last night.​So this it feels like when the shoe is on the other foot. Having already suffered two humiliating and lopsided losses to the Los Angeles Lakers this season, the Suns got to a chance to experience what it's like to dish out a mass ... More >>

Behind The Scenes at Phoenix Suns Game: Steve Nash and Gilbert "Trouble Man" Arenas

Fantastic game downtown last night between the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets, as my colleague Ben Leatherman already has detailed in Valley Fever. We were fortunate enough to be courtside for the thriller, which had the intensity of a do-or-die playoff game. ​Down in the bowels of th ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Destroy Denver Nuggets to Assure Home-Court Advantage In First Round of Playoffs. If Suns Beat Utah Tonight, They Finish Third in West

phoenixsuns.com With assists from Goran Dragic, Lou Amundson was a dunking machine in the Suns' beat-down of the Nuggets. ​The Phoenix Suns blasted out to an 18-2 lead over the Denver Nuggets early in the first quarter of last night's game against the Denver Nuggets, and they nev ... More >>

Morning Poll: Can the Phoenix Suns Handle the Los Angeles Lakers After Sweeping San Antonio Spurs?

Can Steve Nash and the Suns beat Kobe Bryant and the Lakers?​We know the Los Angeles Lakers won't officially be the Phoenix Suns opponent in the next round of the NBA playoffs until they beat the Utah Jazz one more time -- which will likely happen tonight -- but, if history tells us anythin ... More >>

Morning Poll: Are the Phoenix Suns Done?

www.suns.com Not lookin' so hot, fellas.​The Phoenix Suns lost game two of the Western Conference Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers last night, and, as in game one of the series, Kobe Bryant's gettin' all Kobe Bryant on the Suns defense -- if not scoring 40 points in a game, getting the bal ... More >>

Suns in 0-2 Hole After Lakers Run Wild -- Again

Getty ImagesGrant Hill: 23 points in a losing effort.​Well, it was fun while it lasted. From February through the end of the regular season, the Phoenix Suns were one of the most consistently solid teams in the NBA, then they made quick work of playoff foes the Portland Trail Blazers and San Anton ... More >>

"Los Suns" Forward Jared Dudley Doesn't Like SB 1070 -- Ya Know, That Bill "the Mayor" Signed...Yeah

www.nba.com Phoenix Suns civically challenged forward Jared Dudley.​Reason number eight-billion why professional athletes should just shut the fuck up about politics and play sports: Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley. In between games one and two of the Western Conference Finals, Dudl ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Now 2-2 With Lakers in Western Conference Finals on Bench's 54-Point Performance. Most Important Game Since Charles Barkley Era on Thursday Night in L.A.

suns.com (L-R) Goran Dragic, Lou Amundson, Jared Dudley, and Channing Frye (suns.com)​"All we've done is earn ourselves a great opportunity," Steve Nash told reporters, after the Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-106 at US Airways Center last night. "We can't be ... More >>

Morning Poll: Can the Phoenix Suns Win in Los Angeles?

www.spineaz.com​Game five of the NBA Western Conference Finals are tonight in Los Angeles and, for the Phoenix Suns, the game has been called the most important game since the Charles Barkley era. The Suns and the Lakers are tied at two in the series and in order for the Suns to m ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Should Let Amar'e Stoudemire Go, and Go After a Big-Name Free Agent (Like Dirk Nowitzki)

Let's face it: Amar'e Stoudemire's no maximum-dollar player, like. (say...) Kobe Bryant.​It's over, and nobody wants a reccap of the Suns' 111-103 elimination loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals Saturday night. But since we've reported every Suns game this s ... More >>

Hedo Turkoglu Ain't No Amar'e in Phoenix Suns Loss to Portland in Regular-Season Opener

canada.com Hedo Turkoglu under-whelms in his Suns debut.​With Amar'e Stoudemire playing for the New York Knicks this season, the big question was: How will new acquisition Hedo Turkoglu fare as the Phoenix Suns' new, star power forward? Can he be anywhere near the ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Provide A Valiant Effort, But Lose to Los Angeles Lakers Nonetheless

​The Los Angeles Lakers both demonstrated their dominance over the NBA's Western Conference and proved why they're the Phoenix Suns' biggest rivals by defeating Steve Nash and his crew 114-106 on Friday night during the Purple and Orange Gang's home opener at US Airways Center. But while the Suns ... More >>

Phoenix Suns Topple the Lakers and Usurped the Kings This Weekend

www.suns.com/getty imagesWhy is this man smiling?: Alvin Gentry has to happy to beat the Lakers on the road.​The Phoenix Suns put up 40 three-point attempts, and sank 22 of them, Sunday night in Los Angeles as the Suns upset the first-place Lakers 121-116. Turns out the 22 treys is one off an NBA ... More >>

Mean Men

Suns try to ditch their average play against Kobe and crew

Jared Dudley and the Phoenix Suns Stay Tough, But Can't Topple the Los Angeles Lakers

nba.com/sunsJared Dudley led the Phoenix Suns with 21 points during last night's defeat by the Los Angeles Lakers.​The final minutes of last night's game pitting the Phoenix Suns against the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airways Center were pulse-pounding and exciting, but Planet Orange ultimately lost ... More >>

Clock Management Issues and Brain Farts Doom Phoenix Suns in Triple Overtime Loss To Los Angeles Lakers

nba.com/sunsIt's all fun and games until the team loses.​The Phoenix Suns put up a tremendous effort in triple overtime against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers last night -- except for the final moments of the game, when it mattered most. Planet Orange kept it close in regulation, ... More >>

Phoenix Suns CEO Rick Welts: I'm Gay

www.icanhascheeseburger.com​Phoenix Suns President and CEO Rick Welts has done something courageous for a guy in a macho-dominated industry: he came out of the closet.In an article in the New York Times yesterday, Welts, 58, announced that he is gay -- a fact his colleagues had suspecte ... More >>

Morning Poll: Maricopa County Sheriff Shaq?

www.theplayinca.comSheriff Shaq?​Should recently retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal run for Maricopa County Sheriff?That's the seed the Arizona Republic has planted in the minds of observers of county politics -- and sports fans.Republic sports writer Bob Young penned an article yesterday suggestin ... More >>

Tempe Police Allowed Shaquille O’Neal to Play Cop by Giving Him Secret Info on Software Used to Detect Kiddy Porn

www.theplayinca.comSheriff Shaq?​Should recently retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal run for Maricopa County Sheriff?That's the seed the Arizona Republic has planted in the minds of observers of county politics -- and sports fans.Republic sports writer Bob Young penned an article yesterday suggestin ... More >>