The Phoneix Suns have announced they will wear a black memorial band on their jerseys for the 2024-25 season, in honor of their late radio broadcaster, Al McCoy (pictured below).
McCoy passed away on September 21 at the age of 91. McCoy served for 51 years as the play-by-play announcer for the Phoenix Suns, the longest tenure in NBA history.
“Al McCoy’s voice represented the best of the Phoenix Suns organization for over five decades,” said Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. “The impact he had on this organization, this city, and our fans cannot be understated. This jersey band will be a reminder of Al’s enduring legacy every time we take the court.”
According to the NBA:
The longest-tenured team broadcaster in NBA history, McCoy was widely known as the “dean of NBA broadcasters” for his years of service and unique broadcasting style. He served 51 seasons as “The Voice of the Suns,” calling his first game on September 27, 1972, and his last on May 11, 2023. McCoy’s distinctive voice, vivid descriptions and deep knowledge of the game created a unique style that remained a staple for more than five decades.
His many contributions to basketball and sports broadcasting were recognized when he received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. The first play-by-play announcer inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2004 and a 2009 inductee into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, McCoy earned the team’s highest honor when he became the 15th person inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor in 2017.
Here’s a look at the memorial band. Unfortunately, it pales in comparison to the nearby jersey ad.
The band is simple: black, with the white letters spelling “AL”. It will be worn on the left jersey strap of all the Suns uniforms for the entirety of the season.
You can see how the purple band will look on the purple uniforms below. Note that from any kind of distance, it’s almost unreadable (and nearly invisible!).
Here’s a closer look:
At least the memorial band overlaps the double striping on the white and purple jerseys, and while it somewhat blends into the background of the black jersey, because it overlaps the gradient yellow/orange, it’s definitely noticeable.
With the maker’s mark and jersey ads taking up all the prime real estate on NBA jerseys, teams are seemingly going the memorial band route, rather than trying to stick a black patch above either the swoosh or the ad. Recently, the Lakers went this route with a purple memorial band with a “44” for Jerry West, and the Trail Blazers will honor Bill Walton with an awesome tie dye band with the No. 32 emblazoned upon it.
So unfortunate that Al rhymes with PayPal…I would have put his name in the sunburst ball on the jersey. After such a long service to the team Al deserves something special, not a generic band.
When I moved to AZ from Southern Cal in 1990, the one thing I knew I’d miss is Chick Hearn calling the Lakers games. Al McCoy was no Chick, but he was great in his own right. RIP Al.
Whatever you grow up with first will always be the best. If the roles were reversed and I went from growing up with Al McCoy calling Suns games, moved to LA and listened to Chick Hearn call Lakers games, I’d say the same things, Chick is great but he’s no Al. Suns fans were throwing around the slogan “Win it for Al” when the Suns were in the Finals vs the Bucks… I wanted him to call and see a Suns Championship so bad. I grew up shooting hoops in my bedroom listening to Al McCoy call Suns games on the radio. He was the best.
Sorry no. There was only one Chick Hearn. Just like there was only one Vin Scully.
Thoughtful of them to give the memorial band a higher place on the Jersey than the advertising.