Who is Jon Bloom? Meet the man following legendary Al McCoy as full-time 'Voice of the Suns'

Jon Bloom isn't nervous about replacing the legendary 90-years-young Al McCoy.

He's learned from the best, has prepared himself and grinded for this opportunity. He's super pumped about becoming the new full-time 'Voice of the Suns' this upcoming 2023-24 season on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

"I'm not nervous replacing a legend," Bloom said in an interview with The Arizona Republic. "Instead I am full of gratitude and excitement to do the job I feel I've trained my whole life for."

So who is the one being called upon to follow a Hall of Famer who has delivered Suns games on the radio for 51 seasons before retiring?

Read more: Jon Bloom replaces retired Al McCoy as full-time radio announcer for Suns games

'Nuts-and-bolts'

Name: Jon Bloom.

Age: 48.

Hometown: Born in Burlingame, California.

High school: San Mateo High (Class of 1993).

High school sports: Played basketball as a freshman and golf all four years.

College: Syracuse University (Class of 1997).

Degree: Broadcast Journalism major at Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, with a minor in Fine Arts. Bloom won Bob Costas Award as a senior and served as sports director at WAER 88.3 FM.

Family: Married to Jill for 23 years after meeting in Detroit a couple months after moving there for his first job in 1997.  Has two daughters, Marlee 17, Anya 14, and a cockapoo dog named Maizey.

Grinding from Motown to Valley

First radio job: Sports anchor and reporter for WDFN 1130 AM The Fan in Detroit. Spent six years covering Lions, Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, Michigan and Michigan State sports. Did play-by-play for Oakland University basketball, Wayne State football and hosted a syndicated golf radio and TV show called Michigan Golf Live.

Next step: After moving to Phoenix in late 2003, Bloom started as Cardinals’ public address announcer, radio host and backup play-by-play in 2004. Did sideline reporting and play-by-play for the college football game of the week on Touchdown Radio Network. Worked for CBS Sports coverage of the PGA Tour including 12 years at the Masters and also worked for ABC's and NBC's golf coverage.

Hosted the 'Jon Bloom Show' on KTAR and co-hosted 'Backspin The Golf Show' for several years in the Valley. Did public address for Grand Canyon University basketball in 2011 and taught live play-by-play broadcasting at Arizona State University’s Cronkite School in 2021.

With the Suns: Began as a radio host and backup play-by-play announcer in 2008. He called games for their former G League team, Northern Arizona Suns, from 2016 to 2019. Bloom started doing Suns road games for McCoy dating as far back as the 2016-17 season.

Former Suns forward Tim Kempton will continue as Bloom’s radio partner providing game analysis.

When did you first get word that you’d be the full-time play-by-play radio voice of the Phoenix Suns?

“I officially found out the team wanted me to take over quite a while ago, but it hasn’t felt like it was official until recently with the team's announcement to the public. It felt amazing and still does, a real dream come true.”

What was your reaction, because you’ve waited a long time for this? Who gave you the call?

“Dan Siekmann, Suns VP of Broadcast Productions, gave me the call and I'll never forget it. Definitely full of emotion after years of grinding.”

What are a couple of things you picked up or learned from listening to Al McCoy that you use today?

“I learned a lot from Al McCoy, both from listening and just observing him do his thing. The biggest thing was how he handled the fans with such class and maintained his command of the broadcast in every way.”

Nervous about replacing a legend?

“I'm not nervous replacing a legend. Instead, I am full of gratitude and excitement to do the job I feel I've trained my whole life for.”

Rankin: 'Voice of Suns' Al McCoy touches many lives, including mine

How would you describe your broadcast style?

“My style is an energetic combo of old school nuts-and-bolts hoops description with a unique punch of new school flavor featuring references to hip hop and pop culture.”

Have any established catchphrases and if so, what are two or three?

“I have several go-to or ‘catch phrases’ I have used since cutting my play-by-play teeth at 'Cuse (Syracuse) including the ‘deuce and the damage’ on an and one, or he ‘eyes it, tries it and buys it’ on a free throw and a variety of ‘jam-time’ calls for dunks, but I continue to add to that repertoire.”

Who did you listen to growing up either on the radio or on television that made you say, 'I want to do that for a living?'

“I grew up listening to some great broadcasters in the Bay Area who all left their mark on me including Hank Greenwald, Bill King, Lon Simmons, Joe Starkey on the radio and Barry Tompkins, Greg Papa and Gary Radnich on TV.”

What do you love most about your job and what are the challenges that come with the job?

“I always wanted to do radio though because I absolutely love the art form of painting a picture for those who don't have access to the images and it definitely comes from going to bed listening to that clock radio as a kid. There can be some challenges with this job, none tougher than the time it requires on the road and away from my family.  With two teenage daughters, that can be tricky and I'm just so thankful to have such a supportive wife and family.”

With you having done G League games, what do you think of the Suns regaining a G League team?

“I am proud to be the first announcer to go from the G League to the NBA full time and am excited that the Suns are going to have their own G League team again. I think the league has a tremendous amount of potential to serve as an even more bonified minor league system and development ground for hoopers across the country as well as overseas and have long been a proponent of its growth.”

What do you think of the new-look Suns this season?

“As for this Suns roster, are you kidding me??  Did somebody create this one on 2K and convert it to real life, because it looks like it on paper.  I can't wait to see this group come together and am so pumped to get this show started.”

Any predictions? Number of wins? NBA championship?

“I'll leave the predictions to the rest, but I am definitely expecting this to be quite a wild and crazy ride for my first year in the big chair.”

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is Jon Bloom? Meet new full-time 'Voice of the Phoenix Suns'