Al McCoy was a sports broadcaster best known for his 51 years as the play-by-play announcer for the Phoenix Suns, the longest tenure in NBA history.
- Died: September 21, 2024 (Who else died on September 21?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 91.
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Al McCoy’s legacy
Nobody called NBA games for as long as McCoy did. Born on a farm in Williams, Iowa, he grew up loving radio, thanks to the broadcasters he heard on AM channels, and he aspired to be one of them. When he attended Drake University, he minored in broadcast journalism with a major in drama-speech, then picked up broadcasting work soon after graduation.
McCoy moved to Arizona in the late 1950s and did sports broadcasting there for a wide array of teams, moving from station to station as he did. In 1972, he broadcast his first game for the then-new Phoenix Suns, an NBA expansion team. He remained in the position for the next 51 years and became a mainstay for the team. As the “Voice of the Suns,” he became well known for his colorful catchphrases, big personality, and knowledge of the game.
McCoy retired in 2023. He was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, and Iowa Hall of Pride. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recognized him with the Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2007. He is also in the Phoenix Suns’ Ring of Honor.
When not broadcasting, McCoy was a talented jazz pianist who used to play professionally in the Midwest.
Notable quote
“When Captain Marvel said ‘Shazam,’ lightning and thunder and all this excitement happened. Well, where did ‘Shazam’ come from? Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. That’s where the first letters of ‘Shazam’ came from. So I thought, ‘Hey, this might be what I want to use.’” – 2016 interview on “Glendale Today”
Tributes to Al McCoy
Full obituary: Arizona Republic
