Bill Land Retiring To Battle Rare Cancer

Bill Land has been the San Antonio Spurs' play-by-play voice for the last 21 seasons and has therefore seen it all and done it all when it comes to the NBA, revealed on Wednesday morning that he's stepping down from his basketball catbird seat, even though the 2024-25 NBA season is only two months away and for the Spurs - led by Victor Wembanyama - comes with great anticipation.

But the iconic Land, 72, is retiring now, with a purpose: He is in a battle against multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer, with which he was diagnosed with in 2023.

“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 released by the team. "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 especially this past year as I have battled cancer."

Land, who began his broadcasting career in small-town Wisconsin in 1974, began working as a contributor on Spurs telecasts in 1990 before he moved into the full-time chair in 2003.

He has of course been "the voice'' calling multiple NBA championships in San Antonio during a serious of glorious editions of the team. ... and will surely now take pleasure in what "Wemby'' and company can do as he shifts into his all-important "fourth quarter.''