Al McCoy Ready To Relax

• Legendary Phoenix Suns’ broadcaster Al McCoy, best known as “The Voice of The Suns” for his half-century of service to the franchise, is hanging up his headphones at the end of this, his 51st season of calling Suns’ games.

McCoy, who celebrates his 90th birthday next month, is currently the longest tenured play-by-play voice in the NBA, having joined the Suns’ broadcast team in 1972. “I don’t think it’s any big thing because I think everybody knew this was probably going to wrap it up for me obviously,” McCoy told KTAR News‘ Gaydos & Chad last Friday, noting he initially planned to retire last season before being offered to call select games this year on Suns’ radio flagship, Bonneville’s KMVP (Arizona Sports 98.7).

McCoy, the father of veteran radio programmer Mike McCoy, began calling Suns’ road games remotely during the 2020-21 season, prior to his last year traveling with the team. Jon Bloom began taking over the road schedule last season and has filled in for McCoy over a handful of games this year due to health-related absences for McCoy, who returned for last Thursday’s win over the Orlando Magic. McCoy’s final regular season call prior to the postseason will be on April 9. He joins Arizona Sports’ morning duo Bickley & Marottaevery Wednesday. Pictured, (l-r): Mike McCoy, Al McCoy and sons Jay & Jerry.

Some of the honors McCoy has earned over the course of his remarkable career include the Curt Gowdy Media Award (2007), and his induction into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame (2009), the Iowa Hall of Pride (2015) and the Suns’ Ring of Honor (2017). He also served as the Grand Marshal of the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix last December.