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New Phoenix Suns' announcer Jon Bloom on what it's like to follow Al McCoy

The Phoenix Suns tip off their 2023-24 season Tuesday, and much of the attention has been on the team’s new faces.

That includes Bradley Beal, who arrived via a trade during the offseason, and now forms a "Big 3" with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Many of the Suns’ bench players are also new to Phoenix, as is head coach Frank Vogel.

But this season will also be notable for a familiar face — or more to the point — a familiar voice who’s not a part of the team.

Al McCoy retired after last season, after spending more than five decades behind the microphone doing play-by-play on the radio. He’ll be replaced by Jon Bloom, who fans will recognize as McCoy’s backup for the past several years.

Bloom stopped by the KJZZ studio on his way to San Francisco to call the opening game against the Golden State Warriors. Bloom talked about how he found out he would be the person to replace Al McCoy.

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Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.