Happy Thursday, Por Vida fans! Welcome to your morning Spurs Starter.
Yesterday, the voice of the San Antonio Spurs He finally hung up his helmet. After 21 seasons alongside Sean Elliott, commentating Spurs games with his iconic voice, Land will retire with a plethora of accolades, but perhaps more importantly, memories.
“Bill has been a vital member of the Spurs family, not only to us but to the fans who listen to him each season,” said Mike Kickirillo, Senior Director of Broadcasting for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “His iconic voice and character have cemented him in history as one of our beloved Spurs legends.”
“We will be forever grateful to him for dedicating more than 20 years of time to our team and our fans.”
After being diagnosed with cancer last year, Land plans to retire with his family in San Antonio, where he will continue to follow the Spurs as they continue their hopeful climb through the Western Conference.
As a game announcer, Land was inducted into the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Hall of Fame in 2021 and received a Lone Star Sports Emmy for his work on the Spurs’ return to action during the pandemic in 2020. His accolades speak for themselves, but so does his voice.
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Fans may not hear his cheers in the future, but his impact on the team has been palpable. And for that, he is grateful.
“I feel truly blessed to have had a dream job with the best production team in the league and the best analyst in the NBA in Sean Elliott,” Land said. “As I enter the fourth quarter of my life, I want to thank everyone, especially the Spurs fans, for their incredible support over the years.”
The Spurs will honor Land during their home opener against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 26.
And now, here are the headlines:
1. READ: SPURS FOCUS ON FINDING BALANCE IN EXPANDING AUSTIN MARKET
The San Antonio Spurs have put intentionality at the forefront of their expansion into the Austin market since the start of their now-annual “I-35 Series.” This year, a new addition means balance is about to join in.
Read the full story at the link above.
2. WATCH: SPURS SCHEDULE REVEALED ON ‘THE JOE GAITHER SHOW’
This week’s edition of “The Joe Gaither Show” features Matt Guzman and Joe Gaither wrapping up the Olympics, the Spurs’ 2024-25 schedule and this year’s NBA Cup.
Watch the full episode below:
Now that the 2024 NBA Draft is over, you can check out the new Spurs and what they could bring to the team next season and in the future. Below are some trivia about the selected rookies:
Round 1, Pick #4: Stephon Castle
2nd round, pick #48: Harrison Ingram
There are 61 days left until opening night of the 2024-25 NBA season, but the San Antonio Spurs still have a lot to look forward to before then. The regular season schedule will be released at 2 p.m. Central Time, but the entire preseason schedule, NBA Cup schedule, and Christmas Day schedule have been released.
Below is a list of dates and start times (all in CST) for all affected Spurs games:
San Antonio Spurs Preseason
October 7: Home vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (7 p.m. kickoff)
October 9: Home vs. Orlando Magic (7 p.m. kickoff)
October 12: Home vs. Utah Jazz (7 p.m. kickoff)
October 15: Away vs. Miami Heat (6:30 p.m. kickoff)
October 17: Away vs. Houston Rockets (7 p.m. kickoff)
San Antonio Spurs Regular Season Schedule
October 24: Season opener against the Dallas Mavericks
October 26: Home opener against the Houston Rockets
November 15: Start of the group stages against the Los Angeles Lakers
December 10: NBA Cup finals begin
December 25: MSG Christmas at the New York Knicks
December 31: New Year’s Eve vs. LA Clippers
January 23-25: Paris Games vs. Indiana Pacers
February 3: Rodeo road trip begins at Memphis Grizzlies
February 14-16: All-Star break
February 20: Spurs show bad temper against Phoenix Suns
February 21: Spurs lose to Detroit Pistons
March 21: End of the longest home game against the Philadelphia 76ers
April 6: Start of the final road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers
April 13: Last home game against the Toronto Raptors
Below are some of the league’s titles:
Also be sure to follow Spurs On SI NBA Trackingwith more in-depth analysis of major league news and updates.
Check out our homepage for more information and follow us on the platforms below. Thanks for your attention and enjoy the rest of your Thursday.
Bill Land
A bittersweet day for Spurs fans, the organization and my production team. Personally, I am sad that I will no longer be able to work with you @BillLandbut I am happy to know that you will have much more time with your family. Over the past 21 years, I have had the honor and… pic.twitter.com/bFPoql2OfD
— Sean Elliott (@seanelliott_32) August 21, 2024
