R.I.P.: Al McCoy, Iconic NBA Sun Radio Voice

Al McCoy (1933-2024)

The NBA Phoenix Suns announced McCoy's death of legendary Al McCoy on Saturday, Sept. 21. He was 91, reports azcentral.com.

He retired as the voice of the Suns in 2023, after 51 years behind the microphone, the longest tenure of any announcer. It’s a cliché to say things like, “There will never be another one like him.” So what.

He called Suns games through thick and thin, and while the team made it to the NBA Finals twice during his tenure, there were some lean years, as well. But one of the best things about him as an announcer, even though he was very much a Suns’ announcer, was that he wasn’t a total homer. Practically cheering for the team that employs you is more frequent in broadcasts than you might think in some cities. There was never any question who McCoy worked for, but he was not the person who was going to tell you that LeBron James wasn’t having a great night if he went for 30.

Like so many announcers, he started out in baseball. And similarly to Ronald Reagan, when he didn’t travel with the old Phoenix Giants, McCoy re-created on radio games he didn’t attend. His love of playing the piano was well known. You’d often see him at an Arizona Diamondbacks game.

He retired from broadcasting for good on May 11, 2023, when the Suns were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs. His last words during the broadcast were typically low-key: “I just want to say thank you for 51 wonderful years, and allowing me to bring the stories of the Suns and the NBA to you.”