The Phoenix Suns have seen a change in ownership, coaches, players, and even arenas in their 56-year history. But there was one man, rather than one voice which was constant for 51 years, and became the longest-tenured team broadcaster in the league’s history. And Charles Barkley revealed recently that he had the privilege of hearing ‘The Voice of the Suns,‘ before the legend passed away at the age of 91.

“I’ll tell you something really cool happened to me in my life. I got a call from Eddie Johnson recently and he said Al McCoy wanted to talk to me before he died,” Chuck spoke to Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta. “And man, I welled up and Eddie, who’s a great friend of mine, said he only want to talk to two people and say goodbye to him and it was me and Devin Booker.”

The Auburn forward only played for the Suns for 4 years, yet McCoy was the one who expressed his wish to speak to Charles Barkley. Though he doesn’t mention much of the conversation, the Philadelphia 76ers icon reveals Al MacCoy wanted to thank him.

“I’m telling you, it wasn’t a long conversation, and he was thanking me. And I’m like, no man, ‘I thank you, I thank you’.” The TNT analyst also called it one of his unforgettable memories, his tears threatening to come out as he revealed the story on Arizona Sports. When I hung up the phone, I actually had tears in my eyes because it was so special to me.”

Born in Williams, Iowa, McCoy’s love for broadcasting and sports had no bounds. At a time when electricity was scarce, he used battery-powered radios and comic books to keep the imagination running. From those days to call off ‘Shazam,’ ‘Oh, brother,’ ‘Zing go the strings,’ and ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, the Sun’s fan’s memories will be engrained with those words forever.

Apart from Charles Barkley, how did Devin Booker react?

As mentioned earlier, Booker was the other person who spoke to McCoy towards the end. The long-time broadcaster retired after the last game on May 11, 2023. Booker till that time, had spent a considerable amount with the franchise and its legend. “I had the privilege of Al McCoy narrating the first eight years of my career. He was inducted into the Ring of Honor my second season, and it was then I really understood what a special talent he was.”

The Olympic Gold medal winner also added multiple stories alongside the Voice of the Suns. “And over the course of my career, I’ve learned what an even more special person he was. We will miss Al, and I am so glad our legacies in Phoenix are forever connected.” McCoy’s impact on sports broadcasting extended far beyond his catchphrases. He pioneered a style that combined detailed play-by-play with colorful storytelling, making radio broadcasts come alive for listeners.

His ability to paint a clear picture of the action on the court set a standard for aspiring basketball broadcasters across the country. Many familiar voices, including former play-by-play announcer Marv Albert and current broadcaster Mike Breen, cite McCoy as a significant influence, and his longevity in the industry allowed him to mentor countless young broadcasters. To honor the legend, the Phoenix added a black band along the left shoulder of the jersey with “AL” in white writing.