During the Phoenix Suns’ media day Monday, expect to hear the usual cliches about the great offseason of additions and Player X adding 15 pounds of muscle. Good news, though: Do not expect first-year coach Mike Budenholzer to give the ol’ “people are going to have to win their starting roles in training camp” speech.

The Suns have their starting five. There are no surprises.

Budenholzer told NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner in a story published Friday that point guard Tyus Jones will be joined by Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic to begin games.

“Certainly we feel like Tyus has established himself as a great starting point guard in our league and he will be our starter,” Budenholzer told NBA.com. “When you put him out there with Kevin, Brad, Book and Nurk, we feel like we’ve got a strong starting five. And a really strong bench behind them.”

Phoenix’s front office members had already said Jones would start after he averaged 12.0 points, 7.3 assists and shot 49% from the field last season with the Washington Wizards.

That the Suns’ three-headed monster joins him isn’t a surprise, though fan debate at times this offseason went into the zone of considering Beal as a bench player.

That’s not how it works for a three-time All-Star making $51 million per season, even if he did have injury issues and even if his 18.2 points per game were the lowest since the 2015-16 season.

Beal had his most efficient season as a pro — 51% shooting and 43% from three — and hardly did enough to warrant that silly discussion.

Still, Budenholzer naming an official starting lineup this early puts a stamp on the Suns rolling out a pretty small lineup.

Phoenix added Jones late in the free agency process after the former Washington Wizards point guard watched the market dry up, leaving him with backup opportunities and potentially eight figures of annual pay. Instead, he chose the Suns’ starting opportunity, which comes with a veteran’s minimum salary of $3 million.

If the Suns are fully healthy, the move bumps shooting guard Grayson Allen to the bench after his career season playing along with Booker and Beal in the backcourt.

The Jones signing also eats at playing time for fellow point guard Monte Morris, who joined the Suns earlier in the free-agency process looking like he would at least play a significant role off the bench as a low-turnover floor general.

Having two point guards should be welcome for a team that leaned too heavily on Beal and Booker to run point last year. The starting lineup is scary offensively if Jones plays with tempo in the fullcourt and the Suns in the halfcourt can shoot as many threes as they should under Budenholzer.

There are questions about fit and offensive deficiencies at wing and rebounding worries at the 4 and 5 slots. But there’s no question there is more versatility to the roster compared to last year’s team.

Here’s a look at the depth of the 20 players entering training camp on standard, two-way and exhibit-10 contracts.

Who will be in the Phoenix Suns’ starting lineup to begin 2024-25?

PG: Tyus Jones

G: Devin Booker

G: Bradley Beal

F: Kevin Durant

C: Jusuf Nurkic

Suns bench depth

PG: Monte Morris, Collin Gillespie (two-way), TyTy Washington (two-way)

G: Grayson Allen, Damion Lee

Wing: Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, Josh Okogie

F: Bol Bol, Jalen Bridges (two-way), Mamadi Diakite (exhibit-10), Moses Wood (exhibit-10)

C: Mason Plumlee, Oso Ighodaro, Frank Kaminsky (exhibit-10)

Follow @kzimmermanaz

The Phoenix Suns’ G League team, the Valley Suns, traded the rights of expansion draft picks Jahlil Okafor and Garrison Brooks to the Indiana Mad Ants for the rights of point guard David Stockton, the son of NBA all-time steals and assists leader John Stockton.

Okafor was the third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and piled up 247 games of NBA experience that ended in 2020-21 with 27 games played for the Detroit Pistons.

Knee injuries and then inconsistencies tanked his career after a promising rookie year with Philadelphia (17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game).

Stockton, 33, played for the Phoenix Suns in the 2017 Summer League.

He appeared in just three G League games last season for the now-folded G League Ignite, where he averaged 8.7 points and 6.7 assists in 27 minutes per game on a roster of mostly young NBA prospects. Stockton’s rights were deferred to Indiana with the G League Ignite ceasing operations.

He has stints with the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz since going pro in 2014 but has also played in Croatia, New Zealand, Germany, Puerto Rico and for several G League squads.

Valley Suns roster continues taking shape with David Stockton trade

The Valley Suns will likely heavily involve two-way players Jalen Bridges, Collin Gillespie and TyTy Washington, but the team added a wealth of options to its roster with an expansion draft in June.

That gave the G League team returning player rights to 14 players, giving them the ability to sign the players if they opted to play in the G League this season.

The team has been busy in the trade market preparing for the debut season of the franchise in November.

Of the 14 player rights acquired in the expansion draft, the Suns have dealt Okafor, Brooks, Justin Smith, Theo Maledon and Trevion Williams. They’ve acquired the rights to Stockton, guard Kaleb Johnson and big man Mamadi Diakite in those deals.

The Valley team, which will play at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena in Tempe, also traded a 2025 NBA G League Draft first-round pick for Jaden Shackelford.

The G League’s Suns team opens its season at the Santa Cruz Warriors on Nov. 8.

Follow @kzimmermanaz

All three will be competing for a roster spot when camp begins on Oct. 1.

Kaminsky hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2022-23 season, and now is returning to the Suns, where he played from 2019-22.

The 31-year-old averaged 8.2 points on 46.8% shooting and 4.3 rebounds in three seasons with the Suns, playing just nine games in his final season with the team as he dealt with a right knee injury before being waived late in the regular season.

Kaminsky played with the Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks in the 2022-23 season, averaging 2.5 points in 36 total games between the two teams. He played in Serbia last season.

Diakite has played in four NBA seasons, appearing in 55 games across five teams after going undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was a member of the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks team coached by Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer. Diakite averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18 NBA G League games with the Westchester Knicks and the Austin Spurs last season.

Wood played for the Atlanta Hawks at NBA 2K25 Summer League 2024 this past July. During his college career, where he played with Washington, the University of Portland, UNLV and Tulane, Wood averaged 10.5 points on 44.1% shooting and 4.8 rebounds in 157 total games.

Phoenix opens the 2024-25 regular season on Oct. 23 at the Los Angeles Clippers.

Follow @AZSports

Al McCoy’s legacy was built on his kindness. In his profession, he became known for mentoring young broadcasters as they began their commentating careers, supporting and encouraging them from their first seasons on the job through their roles as colleagues.

As the sports world continues to mourn the loss of McCoy, the longest-tenured broadcaster in NBA history who died on Saturday, several colleagues and mentees shared similar stories about how he went out of the way to welcome them.

Phoenix Suns radio analyst Tim Kempton recalled how the legendary Suns play-by-play announcer eased his nerves during his first broadcast for the team.

McCoy would raise his finger and point to Kempton, a former NBA player, to signal that it was his turn to talk during a segment.

“It was very comforting to me at the time because I was brand new to radio broadcasting,” Kempton said when he joined Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Monday.

As Kempton prepared to enter his first year with the team, McCoy was already in his 30th. The two ended up being broadcast partners for 21 years until McCoy retired in 2023.

“He was everyone’s friend,” Kempton said.

Some of Kempton’s favorite McCoy memories come from their time on the road together when he and McCoy would visit the local restaurants and bars of whichever city the Suns were playing in.

“Al would take me to one of his old haunts,” Kempton said. “They’d all have a piano in them.”

McCoy had played as a jazz pianist before getting into broadcasting. Kempton recalled McCoy “playing a couple of tunes” before the two settled down to grab dinner and a drink. The staff would usually greet McCoy as if he were a regular.

“He left a mark and an impression that won’t be touched,” Kevin Ray, the television play-by-play announcer for the Suns, said when he joined Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Monday.

In July 1989, Ray, who went to college at Pittsburg State in Kansas, moved to Flagstaff to pursue his sports broadcasting career. He landed a job as the sports director for Flagstaff’s KVNA-FM.

At that time, the Suns were training at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

“Al reached out to welcome me to the great state of Arizona,” Ray recalled.

The two bonded over their midwestern roots. Ray began attending Suns games and listening to McCoy call plays.

“That’s when I really saw the magic this man had and that he possessed,” Ray said.

Ray, who has also been a play-by-play voice for the Dallas Cowboys, joined the Suns in 2003 as the team’s pregame and postgame telecast host. In 2017, the Suns promoted Ray from sideline reporter to television play-by-play announcer.

McCoy went from a mentor to a colleague for Ray. He noted that being McCoy’s teammate was one of the pinnacles of his career.

“He was willing to lift me up and provide a roadmap for me,” Ray said.

Mike Breen, the announcer for the New York Knicks and lead voice for the NBA on ESPN, recalled his first game in Phoenix when McCoy walked up to the East Coast commentator and introduced himself.

"For a man who wasn't very tall, he was a giant of a man. In our business, he was the dean of all NBA broadcasters."

– ESPN and Knicks voice Mike Breen spoke to @BurnsAndGambo on the late Al McCoy

Full segment: https://t.co/ARyu6sIXpe pic.twitter.com/mzb1wL2RVR

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 24, 2024

“For a man who wasn’t very tall, he was a giant of a man. In our business, he was the dean of NBA broadcasters,” Breen told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Monday.

“He already had this reputation and this aura as one of the giants of this industry, yet he would already carry himself as one of the guys,” he added. “When I first started, I didn’t know anybody. You would go into arenas, and he would be the one to approach you. … He came over to introduce himself to me. And I knew exactly who he was.”

Al McCoy touched play-by-play broadcasters outside of his sport

McCoy’s generosity and talents spanned beyond the NBA.

Dave Pasch, an NBA broadcaster for ESPN and the Arizona Cardinals’ radio play-by-play voice, paid homage to McCoy on Sunday during the Cardinals’ home game against the Detroit Lions.

Pasch used McCoy’s iconic phrase “shazam!” as Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. scored a touchdown during the first quarter.

“It was great to be able to honor him,” Pasch said when he joined Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Tuesday morning.

Pasch knew who McCoy was even before he had connections to the Valley.

In 2002, as Pasch prepared to move to the desert for his new role as the Cardinals’ play-by-play announcer, sports commentator Bob Costas told Pasch that he needed to meet McCoy as soon as he arrived in Arizona.

“He was as kind and thoughtful and gracious as everyone said he was,” Pasch recalled.

Kempton praised his former broadcast partner’s longevity and ability to maintain a positive energy throughout every game. He added that the legacy McCoy left behind will live on for generations to come.

“You thought he would go on forever,” Kempton said. “It seemed like he would.”

Little and E.J. Liddell were waived by Phoenix in August, opening a roster spot as the Suns eyed salary cap relief.

Charania reports the Suns stretched Little’s three years and $22 million left on his contract. That means the contract will be paid over twice the number of years left on the deal, plus one, thinning the amount owed.

While it moves millions to the salary cap table through the 2030-31 season, taking those small amounts off the books will save around $40 million in tax penalties over the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons as the Suns navigate the second apron, according to The Athletic’s John Hollinger.

Little appeared in 45 games for Phoenix but struggled with a knee injury during the second half of the season.

Little averaged 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game with a single start. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound wing was the 25th overall pick in 2019.

The Suns acquired him in the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade that shipped Deandre Ayton to the Trail Blazers and brought Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen to Phoenix.

Follow @AZSports

There was very little static with either.

The dearly departed McCoy was more than a golden-toned Valley treasure. He was an icon from another era. He was a local legend who stayed local, the longest tenured team broadcaster in NBA history (51 years). 

Vin Scully served 67 years with the Dodgers, but he had a strong national presence, broadcasting national baseball games along with football and golf. Harry Caray was a Chicago legend, but that relationship was a bit complicated, as he served both the White Sox and rival Cubs along with a 25-year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

McCoy wasn’t quite as smooth as Scully, who could go entire broadcasts without fumbling a single word. He wasn’t the fun uncle swilling beer with customers in the bleachers, as Caray famously did.    

But he was graceful and grandfatherly and kind. (Unless you were an NBA referee). 

Best of all, he was ours.

McCoy died Saturday at age 91, and those who care about Phoenix Suns basketball went through their own cycles of grief. I took solace that McCoy had been frequently honored in recent years.  He knew what he meant to all of us.   

Behind the scenes and off the record, McCoy could be sharp-tongued and hilarious. Behind the microphone, he was class and polish personified. He became a trusted, comforting voice in the community. No one questioned his sincerity or his love of the Suns.  

He was also an accomplished pianist, and occasionally played for shut-ins and senior citizens in nursing homes. He was the steadying soundtrack for generations of fans in Arizona, but he was far more than just a voice. 

I also became angry that the Suns never won a championship in his 51 years on the job, especially when he grew so fond of Devin Booker. I resented the little pings of disrespect he felt late in his career, like broadcasting from the rafters or dealing with certain pompous head coaches. And then I came to a full stop. 

There was no void in McCoy’s life. There was nothing missing. He loved what he did. He was loved for what he did. How could a person be richer? Who would dare ask for anything more? 

Broadcasters like McCoy rarely exist in today’s sporting culture that is steeped in brand awareness and protecting the franchise. Most teams don’t like broadcasters who become larger than life, thereby gaining the autonomy to speak honestly at all costs, telling whatever hard truths are necessary. And the dilution/fragmentation of media has made it nearly impossible for local guys to become champions of the people, a mouthpiece for the masses. 

Not McCoy. He became bigger than sunsets and salsa in Arizona. He could’ve run for public office. And unlike many aging broadcasters, he never lost his fastball, broadcasting a fast-paced sport with great fluency until the very end. 

We’ll miss him because we loved him. Because we were the lucky ones.  

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6–10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

Follow @danbickley

But if he had to choose a college time in the good ol’ U.S.A., the career-long Dallas Mavericks star says he would’ve gone to Arizona. Why be a Wildcat?

“They say it’s good there,” Doncic said in a video released by Overtime, a sports league and media company.

Luka said if went to college in the US he would’ve went to ARIZONA 👀 pic.twitter.com/R3mAcHYse7

— Overtime (@overtime) September 21, 2024

4 years of eligibility left@luka7doncic 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/ZZsbyHGKRr

— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) September 23, 2024

Phoenix Suns fans might be torn if that were the case. They probably have a laundry list of reasons to dislike Doncic for what he’s done to the Suns as a pro, but some probably wish Phoenix had drafted him instead of Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Arizona Wildcat fans more certainly wish that Doncic had spent a year in college, especially since Doncic could have teamed with Ayton in 2017-18.

Ayton’s team, a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, flamed out with a first-round loss to No. 13 seed Buffalo in a game that might’ve been different had Doncic been living that college life.

Luka Doncic isn’t the only one who could have seen himself playing in college at Arizona

Overtime’s video included a poll of three former Duke players who were asked where they could’ve seen Doncic going to college.

The New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson said he could’ve seen the Slovenian suited up for USC, Texas A&M and Florida.

Orlando Magic rising star Paolo Banchero said former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski loved Doncic and would have fit him in Durham, N.C. But fellow Duke product and current Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum sees why Doncic might lean toward Arizona.

“He plays in the Western Conference so I’m going to say he went to like, Arizona,” Tatum said.

There are certainly vibes that match Doncic enjoying school in Arizona.

Now where would he come to understand those vibes since he never thought about college? Well, he spent the last few years with former Wildcat Josh Green on the Mavericks. Maybe there were some good stories shared.

Though Doncic’s theoretical college tenure came during Sean Miller’s time as head coach at Arizona, current Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd is known to be one of the best international recruiters in college hoops. He’s recruited players from central Europe in places like Lithuania, Serbia, Poland and Croatia.

Word just might’ve gotten around.

Follow @AZSports

McCoy, who called Suns games for 51 years, died at 91 years old.

On Saturday, shortly after the Suns announced McCoy’s death, Arizona Diamondbacks radio play-by-play voice Chris Garagiola paid tribute during his call of Jose Herrera’s first career home run with an iconic “Shazam!”

SHAZAM! ⚡

A touching tribute to the late, great Al McCoy from @ChrisGaragiola on today’s broadcast. 💜🧡 pic.twitter.com/D1N5Ht0vFE

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 22, 2024

Arizona Cardinals radio play-by-play voice Dave Pasch followed suit on Sunday, exclaiming “Shazam!” as wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. pulled in a touchdown from Kyler Murray.

The Cardinals held a moment of silence for McCoy before kick-off against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium.

SHAZAM!

Cardinals broadcaster Dave Pasch honors the late great Al McCoy as Marvin Harrison Jr. pulls down the touchdown. pic.twitter.com/6ub3HyVswW

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 22, 2024

On Saturday, Pasch posted on X, “Al McCoy was a great mentor and friend. The best broadcaster in Arizona history, and one of the all time great NBA announcers. Al was kind, thoughtful and gracious with his time. Was grateful to have spoken to Al recently and to hear the peace in his voice.”

Fellow Suns broadcasters Kevin Ray, Jon Bloom and Eddie Johnson also paid their respects to McCoy on social media.

Thx to those who said “sorry for your loss” today.

For me, Al McCoy will always mean win so much more than loss.

It was a win for all of us who got to hear Al do his thing, & like a title for those lucky enough to know him.

May his memory be a blessing & his legacy everlasting

— Jon Bloom (@JonBloom) September 22, 2024

Rest easy Legend! You’ve left an indelible mark on the Team, the @nba and the Az community. #Godspeed 😪💔🙏 https://t.co/iPluqQR02p

— Kevin Ray (@kray1voice) September 21, 2024

RIP Mentor! 🙏🏿🙏🏿🥲 https://t.co/ITYcTSvh7m

— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) September 21, 2024

Follow @AZSports

Newest member of the fam. Welcome home, Braylon! 🤝💜

📰: https://t.co/7wp6wwy05W pic.twitter.com/FQIP6JPmPB

— Grand Canyon Men’s Basketball (@GCU_MBB) September 20, 2024

Braylon played his high school ball at Phoenix Pinnacle High after his family relocated to the Valley when Cam was drafted in 2019.

“It was really cool, especially when Cam was playing here,” Johnson told GCULopes.com’s Paul Coro of the love his family has felt in the area. “But it’s crazy seeing how much he’s still supported even though he’s not here anymore.”

“We are really excited to be adding Braylon to our roster,” GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. “He has tremendous upside, a great work ethic and comes from a terrific basketball family.”

Johnson averaged 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior, helping Pinnacle reach the 6A state semifinals.

Puff Johnson, a brother aged between Braylon and Cam, also played at Pinnacle. He considered GCU while in the transfer portal after starting his college career at North Carolina. He now plays for Penn State.

“GCU was the place I always wanted to go. It just always seemed like a great environment,” Braylon added. “The coaching staff is great, the fans are great, the games are crazy. I just thought it would be a great place for me to come in and grow and become a better player.”

The ‘Lopes enter the 2024-25 season returning most of the rotation that earned the program’s first NCAA tournament victory, including 2023 WAC Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster.

The longest tenured team broadcaster in NBA history, McCoy served 51 seasons as the voice of the Suns, cementing his legacy throughout Arizona and the NBA with his unforgettable calls of some of the most memorable moments in Suns history.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Al McCoy. pic.twitter.com/4EuSKmzVDV

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 21, 2024

“As a father, he taught us the value of respect, loyalty, hard work, and love – both on and off the court,” the McCoy family said in a statement. “His passion, dedication and kindness touched countless lives, and while he may be gone, the impact he made will be felt for generations to come.”

Here are some reactions from around the league on McCoy’s passing:

Suns organization pays tribute

pic.twitter.com/T430dwfCcT

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) September 21, 2024

Owner Mat Ishbia: “From his first call in 1972 to his last in 2023, Al McCoy was there for every defining moment in our history. He was the heartbeat of our organization, a cherished friend, a mentor to many and a legend whose voice brought countless unforgettable moments to life for generations of Suns fans. We are heartbroken by the passing of our beloved Al, the voice of the Phoenix Suns for over five decades. Our thoughts go out to Al’s family, friends and to our entire Suns community.”

Head Coach Mike Budenholzer: “We lost one of my heroes. I can still hear Al’s voice in our living room and backyard calling the plays of Sweet D, Westy and Double A … SHAZAM!!! He brought the Suns into my life, like he did for generations of kids across Arizona. Al was an icon and he will be missed”

All-Star Devin Booker: “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. 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.”

Ring of Honor member Steve Nash: “I got to work with the great Al McCoy for 10 incredible years. His energy and spirit were unmatched, and I’ll never forget all the conversations and laughs we shared. He was the teammate that never wore a jersey. He loved his Phoenix Suns as much as anyone and his legacy will endure the generations of Suns fans to come. Lots of love to the one and only Al McCoy.

Ring of Honor member Charles Barkley: “This is a sad day for the Suns and the Suns family. Al McCoy represented everything that is great about Phoenix, the Phoenix Suns and people who love basketball. I was blessed and honored to work with Al and I’m gonna miss him.”

Arizona Sports hosts react

Kellan Olson, co-host of Arizona Sports at Night: “Not going to be able to describe in a tweet what Al McCoy meant to me as a basketball fan growing up in Arizona but what I can say is he was always kind to interact with. Don’t really get starstruck around the arena but always did with him. RIP to the all-timer.

“One night I was accidentally sitting in his usual pregame media room seat. As he walked in, I immediately jumped and offered it, only for Al to say it wasn’t his. I said, ‘S*** Al, the room is named after you. Every seat is yours.’ I was serious but he declined and laughed it off.”

Dave Burns, co-host of Burns & Gambo: “In the mid 70’s Al was my gateway into this love of Suns basketball. I can recall arranging the rabbit ears of an old TV to watch the game and hear his unmistakable call. As a young broadcaster in the early 90s I honestly can’t recall my first encounter with him; I was so nervous to meet him. Thank you Al. Rest in peace.”

Reactions, stories from the Suns community

We extend our deepest condolences to Al’s loved ones and the entire @Suns family. There will never be another like him. 💜🧡 https://t.co/0KByAP5j4c pic.twitter.com/NMXAzTVlpc

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 21, 2024

SHAZAM! ⚡

A touching tribute to the late, great Al McCoy from @ChrisGaragiola on today's broadcast. 💜🧡 pic.twitter.com/D1N5Ht0vFE

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 22, 2024

Al McCoy was a great mentor and friend. The best broadcaster in Arizona history, and one of the all time great NBA announcers. Al was kind, thoughtful, and gracious with his time. Was grateful to have spoken to Al recently and to hear the peace in his voice.

— Dave Pasch (@DavePasch) September 21, 2024

Suns legend Al MCoy has passed away at the age of 91. Al was like a second dad or extra grandad to a lot oof us. He traveled with us, ate with us, drank with us, told us to stop bitching at the refs, hugged us, & loved us. We loved him back. Rest, Al.💜🧡pic.twitter.com/K7hDNjx53R

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) September 21, 2024

I was never much into sports growing up. But I always listened to Al McCoy when my mom drove me home from school on the car radio. A larger then life personality from such a kind hearted little frame. I’m going to miss Al. https://t.co/h32pGbIDQP

— Ineedmorcowbell (@Moarcowbell) September 21, 2024

This is very sad. As a kid when it came time for bed and the Suns were playing, I’d tune my little yellow radio on 620 to and doze off to the sound of Al McCoy announcing the game. He was part of a lot of people’s lives in that kind of way. RIP https://t.co/Rq7n9i14uZ

— Mike Slaven (@mcslaven) September 21, 2024

I got to meet Al McCoy during the Cronkite Sports Broadcasting Bootcamp in 2019. He was truly an icon, especially for a kid that grew up listening to his voice.

Thank you for all you’ve done for the game of basketball and beyond. God bless you Al McCoy. pic.twitter.com/kZvYQFJCAk

— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) September 21, 2024

“Heartbreak Hotel.” RIP to the greatest basketball announcer of all time. Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in Phoenix, Al McCoy’s radio play-by-play made me fall in the love with the @suns and the game of basketball. The Stanton family has many fond memories of listening to Al. https://t.co/kPJYFZ4u73

— Rep. Greg Stanton (@RepGregStanton) September 21, 2024

I never got to hear much of Al McCoy because I never lived in Arizona. But that’s kind of the point: He was part of a generation of basketball announcers who became so entrenched as the voice of his team that he was entertwined with the history of the team. He was a great one RIP https://t.co/AIkPAO9JGG

— Phil Lueck (@cool_hand12) September 21, 2024

Follow @AZSports

Video/Photo: Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports and Phoenix Suns/NBA

Arizona Sports has the permission and the rights to shoot video from the NBA and the Phoenix Suns.

Photos: Getty Images

He was 91 years old.

McCoy called his final game for the Phoenix Suns on May 11, 2023.

He took over the reins in 1972, marking the longest stretch for a broadcaster with a single team in NBA history.

McCoy will always be remembered for his “shazam!” call whenever the Suns hit a three-pointer. His long list of McCoy-isms included “oh, brother!” in times of turmoil or confusion, “wham bam slam!” whenever a Suns player dunked the ball, plus “zing go the strings!” and “twine time!” when a player swished a jumper.

Al McCoy became the voice of the Phoenix Suns

McCoy put together an illustrious career, winning the Curt Gowdy Media Award at the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2007. He was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, the Iowa Hall of Pride in 2015 and the Suns’ Ring of Honor in 2017.

The Suns honored McCoy on April 9, 2023, and gave the Hall of Famer a chance to say goodbye to the oldest fanbase in Valley sports. He continued on the call through that postseason before hanging up the headset.

“It’s been, as I have said so many times as of late, 51 years have slid by and it has been a great ride,” he said that night.

“Thank you for allowing me to tell the story of the Suns for 51 great years.”

“As a father, he taught us the value of respect, loyalty, hard work, and love – both on and off the court,” the McCoy family said in a statement. “His passion, dedication and kindness touched countless lives, and while he may be gone, the impact he made will be felt for generations to come.”

McCoy’s last notable moment in the spotlight came in May when he helped the Suns welcome new head coach and Arizona native Mike Budenholzer to Phoenix.

“I had the privilege of Al McCoy narrating the first eight years of my career,” Devin Booker said. “He was inducted into the Ring of Honor my second season, and it was then I really understood what a special talent he was. 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.”

Jon Bloom took over as the radio play-by-play voice of the Suns after McCoy’s retirement.

Follow @AZSports

Video/Photo: Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports and Phoenix Suns/NBA

Arizona Sports has the permission and the rights to shoot video from the NBA and the Phoenix Suns.

Photos: Getty Images

The Suns dealt the rights to forward Justin Smith.

Johnson is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard who has spent the past four seasons with Austin in the G League. He has yet to make his NBA debut.

His younger brother, Keldon Johnson, has spent the past five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Last season, Kaleb Johnson played 39 games between regular season and showcase appearances, averaging 8.1 points per game on 62.5% shooting, albeit he did not make a 3-pointer. The southpaw shooter shot 53.7% from the free-throw line.

The 27-year-old also added 0.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game.

Johnson played his college ball at Georgetown, spending four seasons with the Hoyas before going undrafted.

The Suns took Smith in the 2024-25 G-League Expansion Draft from the Delaware Blue Coats.

Who are the Valley Suns?

The Phoenix Suns introduced their G-League affiliate in May, and the team will play its home games at Arizona State’s Mullett Arena. Their home opener is on Nov. 11 against the Stockton Kings.

The G League schedule is sectioned into two parts: The 16-game Tip-Off Tournament and a 34-game regular season.

The Valley Suns hired John Little, a former assistant coach for Boston’s G League affiliate, as head coach. Among their expansion draftees were former top-10 NBA Draft picks Jahlil Okafor and Emmanuel Mudiay.

Having a player’s rights does necessarily mean he is going to play for the Suns’ G League team, as they could consider pro leagues in other countries.

Follow @AZSports

One of the trends we’ve come to understand is muscle watch, when players will post workout pictures around August or September, showing a physical transformation of sorts. This is usually accompanied by a caption somewhere along the lines of “Career year inbound? 👀” and the career year is almost never, in fact, inbound.

The one involving a Suns player, however, has been alongside actual basketball footage. Dare we say, intentional basketball footage that is worth bringing up.

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic is online. He does not shy away from a reply here or there, as well as blocking someone in a way that triggers a “what did I say badly about the big fella?” response. Nurkic is a bit of a poster! Do not take this negatively. He is a refreshing, thoughtful guy to talk to in a media environment. This is to preface the fact that he is very likely aware of the on-court narrative that started formulating for him once new head coach Mike Budenholzer arrived.

With Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis used as stretch 5s under Budenholzer in Milwaukee, it has been asked if Nurkic will take on that role for Phoenix as well. In Budenholzer’s last year with the Atlanta Hawks, Al Horford went from 65 total 3-point attempts in his first eight seasons to 256 that year. Horford has since gone on to shoot over 40% from 3 for the Boston Celtics each of the last two seasons on great volume for a big.

Nurkic has been posting a fair share of his workouts overseas on Instagram, and the overwhelming majority of them involving a basketball play are him taking/making a 3-pointer.

Jusuf Nurkić is coming different next season 👀🔥

(h/t @Iceman_34 )

pic.twitter.com/ifsb64ki8p

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 22, 2024

Ah, I forgot the fire emoji earlier. That’s on me.

Wouldn’t you know it, even Budenholzer himself came to visit Nurkic too.

👋🏻 ☀️ pic.twitter.com/hMQCJrrC3E

— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) August 4, 2024

Jusuf Nurkic doing more stretch 5 things can help the Suns

Going off some admittedly mislabeled positional designations on NBA Stats, the Suns ranked 22nd last year in 3s made by centers. Take out Bol Bol’s 22, a player that almost never was featured at the 5, and Phoenix drops to 23 total and 26th. The teams it shares the bottom-five with all ranked top-five in alley-oop dunks from centers, while the Suns themselves were 29th there with just 23 as well.

This was another topic of conversation inside the Suns’ offseason, how there was a need for them to add a center with a more pronounced skill set in that singular dimension. The new additions don’t exactly solve this. Mason Plumlee is not the lob threat anymore that he was in the prime of his career. Rookie Oso Ighodaro will snag a few but it’s not the focal point of his offensive role. Both do not shoot.

Nurkic used to!

Two seasons ago, his last with the Portland Trail Blazers before arriving in Phoenix, Nurkic shot 36.1% across 119 attempts. That’s a solid 2.3 per game and a solid knockdown rate for a big.

Nurkic would relocate to the corner when a possession saw its sunset. The mechanics of his jumper are fine and dandy.

There’s also the obvious pick-and-pop situations, which can be used on or off the ball with how Nurkic will be utilized.

To put it bluntly, this was expected to be a thing in Phoenix, one of Nurkic’s talents that would help offset all his limitations in areas Deandre Ayton thrived in, such as finishing around the rim.

And it was. Until it wasn’t.

Nurkic attempted a 3-pointer in 33 of his first 35 games with the Suns, a total of 77 and an average of 2.2 a night that was right along with that frequency in Portland. The problem is he only made 27.3% of ’em and that was the point Phoenix cut off his water.

In Nurkic’s 46 remaining appearances, he took just 13, eight of which were in late-clock scenarios.

The question is, should he next season? Yeah! Probably!

The value trade-off of swapping out Nurkic’s susceptible efficiency around the basket in exchange for getting more 3s up as a team is there, especially if Nurkic can get back around the mid-30s on his percentage. Budenholzer can figure that out in real time much better, assessing the pros and cons as the season progresses. And if Nurkic isn’t making them again, the Suns can adjust again.

This all goes back to the core point when Nurkic was acquired. He provides value in other areas since he is not a traditional rim-rolling big or rim protector. The playmaking was there last year, as was the top-tier rebounding. A sprinkle of triples would be a welcome added bonus to push that value over the top for the Suns.

Follow @KellanOlson