Charles Barkley reflects on his final conversation with Al McCoy

Before he passed, McCoy wanted to talk to two Suns’ players.

The Phoenix Suns 2024-25 campaign has officially begun, as the team now has two games underneath their belt.

This season carries with it a sense of hope, opportunity, and promise, but it’s also marked by a poignant absence. It’s the first year that legendary broadcaster Al McCoy won’t witness. Al passed away this past summer at the age of 91, after calling Suns games for 51 of those years. Every time Phoenix steps on the court, we’ll be reminded of him. To honor his legacy, the team will wear a black ribbon on their left chest, adorned with two letters that mean everything to the organization and its fans: “AL.”

Wednesday, Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta from Arizona Sports 98.7 had the chance to interview Charles Barkley ahead of the Suns’ season. Chuck, who played four years in Phoenix and proudly refers to the team as “my Suns,” shared his reflections on Al McCoy’s passing and what it meant to have one last conversation with Al at his request.

“I got a call from Eddie Johnson recently and he said, ‘Al McCoy wanted to talk to me before he died’,” Barkley recalled. “Man, I welled up.”

“It wasn’t a long conversation and he was thanking me, and I’m like, ‘Nah, man, I thank you!’. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life. And I’ll never forget it. When I hung up the phone I actually had tears in my eyes because it was so special to me.”

It speaks volumes about McCoy’s deep love and commitment to this team, organization, and its players that, as a steward of the franchise’s history, he wanted to connect with two of the greatest Suns of all time.

It’s hard not to get emotional when thinking about his passing. Al lived a long, full life, but there’s a bittersweet feeling knowing this team has a chance to make a championship run without him here to witness it.