The man who served as the soundtrack to many San Antonio Spurs“The glory years are resign After 21 years, TV commentator Bill Land announces his retirement. in view of the 2024-2025 campaign. Towards the start of last season, Land revealed he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer, although he still commentated on most of the Silver and Black’s games, including several away games, throughout the year.
Land has been a major part of Spurs broadcasts since 2003, officially taking over as lead commentator in 2008. San Antonio won its second NBA championship in 2003, before winning three more in 2005, 2007 and 2014.
Bill Land’s legacy runs parallel to that of the Spurs
When the Spurs missed the playoffs in 2020, it was the first time the organization had done so since 1997. Land’s trademark shout of “OH MAMA!” accompanied fans through countless memorable moments throughout that run. As Tony Parker joined the Spurs in 2001 and Manu Ginobili arrived in 2002, Land showcased the best years of the franchise’s famed “Big 3,” if you include Tim Duncan, on television in the greater San Antonio area on Bally Sports Southwest (Fox Sports Southwest for most of that stretch) and on local affiliates that carried programming produced by Spurs Sports & Entertainment.
A native of DeKalb, Illinois, Land’s tenure also spanned Kawhi Leonard’s seven years in the Alamo City; the Spurs’ 50th anniversary season, including a record-breaking attendance game at the Alamodome in 2023; and the beginning of the Victor Wembanyama era last fall.
Land’s award-winning career
As the Spurs’ lead commentator for more than two decades, Land teamed up with franchise legend Sean Elliott to form a beloved duo among the team’s faithful.
“I am grateful and appreciative of the support from the entire Spurs organization as well as FOX Sports/Bally Sports,” Land said.
“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. 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 and especially this past year as I battled cancer.”
Land’s 50-year career began in 1974 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Highlights of his career included serving as a television sportscaster, radio announcer and play-by-play announcer for the Texas Rangers, Tulsa Roughnecks and various Southwest Conference/Big XII programs, while also serving as the play-by-play announcer for Wichita State University, Oral Roberts University and the University of Tulsa.
Land joined the Spurs broadcast team in 1990 as an occasional fill-in announcer on Home Sports Entertainment.
“Bill has been a vital member of the Spurs family, not only to us but to the fans who tune in each and every season,” said Mike Kickirillo, Senior Director of Broadcasting for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “The pure joy and passion he brings to our games personalizes the experience for every fan who tunes in, and his iconic voice and character have cemented him in history as one of our beloved Spurs legends. We will be forever grateful for his 20-plus years of dedication to our team and fans, and his voice will be greatly missed.”
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Land won a Lone Star Sports Emmy for his work on the Spurs’ return to action during the pandemic in 2020. He was inducted into the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Hall of Fame in 2021.
What’s next for Land?
Last June, Land underwent a stem cell transplant that had a positive effect on his diagnosis. A Spurs press release said Land plans to remain in the San Antonio area with his wife, Gayle, and spend time with his sons Taylor and Cooper and their families, traveling, golfing, watching the Chicago Cubs and keeping tabs on the Spurs.
Land’s last broadcast was on April 15, during a Spurs landslide victory over the Detroit Pistons – 50 years to the day after his first day as a professional commentator – which took place on April 15, 1974.
The Spurs plan to honor Land during their home opener against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, Oct. 26.
