Longtime San Antonio Spurs play-by-play announcer Bill Land has announced his retirement from the role, ending his 34-year tenure broadcasting in varying capacities with the organization. Land first joined the Spurs organization as a fill-in announcer in 1990 before working his way up to the play-by-play announcer role 18 years later. Throughout his time behind the microphone, he has called countless memorable moments and the careers of star players such as Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli. Land’s trademark “Oh Mama!” call is part of the soundtrack within the history of the organization, including five NBA championships between the years 1999 and 2014.
Land had called games on Bally Sports Southwest and on local affiliates that aired the broadcasts produced by the organization’s Spurs Sports & Entertainment division. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last year, a rare form of blood cancer, but he still called a majority of the team’s games last season. This past June, Land underwent a successful stem cell transplant that has had a positive impact on his diagnosis. The Spurs organization will honor Land at its home opener against the Houston Rockets from Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26.
“I am grateful and appreciative for the support from the entire Spurs organization as well as FOX Sports/Bally Sports,” Land said in a statement. “I feel truly blessed to have had a dream job with the best production crew in the league and the best analyst in the NBA, Sean Elliott. As I move into the fourth quarter of my life, I want to thank everyone, especially Spurs fans, for their incredible support over the years and particularly this past year as I have battled cancer.”
Land called his final game approximately 50 years to the day of his first professional broadcast, a 28-point victory for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs over the Detroit Pistons. The team has not yet named a new play-by-play announcer to fill the role and work alongside analyst Sean Elliott. Information pertaining to the 2024-25 Spurs broadcast team will be shared at a later date.
“Bill has been a core member of the Spurs family, not only for us but for the fans who listen to him each season,” Mike Kickirillo, senior director of broadcasting at Spurs Sports & Entertainment, said in a statement. “The pure joy and passion he brings to our games personalizes the experience for all fans listening, and his iconic voice and character have cemented him in history among our beloved Spurs legends. We’ll be forever grateful to him for bringing over 20 years of dedication to our team and fans, and will miss his voice dearly.”
