Phoenix Suns longtime radio play-by-play announcer Al McCoy dies at 91
Al McCoy served 51 seasons as the Phoenix Suns' play-by-play announcer. He retired following the 2022-23 season as the longest-tenured team broadcaster in NBA history.
Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor member and 51-year play-by-play announcer Al McCoy died at 91, the team announced on Saturday.
“From his first call in 1972 to his last in 2023, Al McCoy was there for every defining moment in our history,” Suns and Phoenix Mercury majority owner Mat Ishbia said in a statement.
“We are heartbroken by the passing of our beloved Al, the voice of the Phoenix Suns for over five decades. Our thoughts go out to Al’s family, friends and to our entire Suns community.”
McCoy is survived by his three sons, Mike, Jay and Jerry, and seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Funeral services are pending, the Suns said.
McCoy, who graduated from both Drake University and the University of Iowa, will be remembered fondly by Suns fans for phrases, “Shazam!”, “Zing go the Strings,” and Heartbreak Hotel.” He called his first game on September 27, 1972, and covered three NBA Finals before his final game on May 11, 2023.
McCoy is a member of the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame (2004) and Arizona Sports Hall of Fame (2009). He was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor in 2017.
“I had the privilege of Al McCoy narrating the first eight years of my career,” Suns guard Devin Booker said. “He was inducted into the Ring of Honor my second season, and it was then I really understood what a special talent he was. And over the course of my career, I’ve learned what an even more special person he was. We miss Al, and I am so glad our legacies in Phoenix are forever connected.”
Added Suns Ring of Honor member and two-time MVP Steve Nash: “I got to work with the great Al McCoy for 10 incredible years. His energy and spirit were unmatched and I’ll never forget all the conversations and laughs we shared. He was the teammate that never wore a jersey. He loved his Phoenix Suns as much as anyone and his legacy will endure the generations of Suns fans to come … “