Jacob Tobey won’t return to the San Antonio Spurs broadcast booth this season. His exit follows a personal controversy that quickly spread across social media.
What We Know: The San Antonio Spurs are moving on from Jacob Tobey after one season as the team’s television play-by-play announcer. Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel first reported Tobey won’t return for the upcoming NBA season. Earlier this week, Tobey’s Instagram account shared a story reading, “This is my girlfriend of six years. But I cheated on her with Loren Waters. So feel free to continue following me if you really think I’m a good guy because I’m not.” A later post included a photo booth printout that appeared to show Tobey kissing Loren Waters, the sister of Spurs player Lindsay Waters III, along with several other images.
What’s At Stake: Although the controversy centered on Tobey’s personal life, it quickly became a public issue because of the alleged connection to a family member of a Spurs player. As a result, the organization now faces the task of replacing its television play-by-play voice after originally hiring him in 2024. Meanwhile, the situation highlights how rapidly personal social media posts can create professional consequences.
What Remains Unclear: Neither the Spurs nor Tobey has publicly detailed whether the reported departure directly resulted from the social media posts. Additionally, the team hasn’t announced who will handle television play-by-play duties next season.
What It Means: Sports broadcasters increasingly serve as public representatives of their organizations beyond game coverage. Consequently, off-air controversies can affect employment decisions just as quickly as on-air performance. For the Spurs, the focus now shifts toward finding a new voice before the NBA season begins.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.