PHOENIX — New Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer already has one new fan: the retired longtime voice of the Suns, Al McCoy.
McCoy made what was already an extra special day for the franchise even better by being the voice behind the top moment of Budenholzer's introductory press conference at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix on Friday.
That's because the Suns' Ring of Honor member and former play-by-play voice started the ceremonies by introducing the new head coach and welcoming Budenholzer back home to Arizona with his signature call, "Shazam!"
“Good afternoon everybody,” McCoy said as he stood up and spoke into a microphone. “I happen to be Al McCoy and I love basketball.”
Everyone in attendance at Friday's press conference knew at that moment they were about to watch something special.
"Right now, I welcome you to what I believe is one of the highlights of the Suns' entire history," McCoy continued. "It is a great honor for me to present to you now a coach that loves the game of basketball, the coach of the Phoenix Suns, Mike Budenholzer! Mike, come on out here, and shazam for you, my friend!"
Budenholzer then gave McCoy a hug, bowed down to him and called him, "One of my heroes."
After the press conference started, Budenholzer spoke about the moment with McCoy, saying it brought back memories from his childhood.
"It's amazing," Budenholzer said. "I don't what the word is, surreal or wild, and to have Al kind of introduce me and to think about Alvin Adams at the elbows, AA and Sweet D and Paul Westphal, and my dad taking me in the backyard and teaching me Paul Westphal's reverse pivot into a pump fake to a step-through, I mean, I could go on. I'm probably in the wrong room to do Suns trivia, but in other states in the country, I'd probably do okay."
McCoy is very familar with the Budenholzer family, especially Mike's 94-year-old dad Vince, a legendary high school basketball coach in Arizona, who McCoy made sure to say hello to before Friday's press conference.
After the press conference, McCoy spoke with 12News journalist Cameron Cox. You can watch the interview in the video at the top of this story.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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