Full Breakdown
Spurs Dismiss Play-by-Play Announcer Jacob Tobey Amid Alleged Affair with Player’s Sister
7/10/2026, 5:03:43 PM
Core Event
On July 9, 2024, the San Antonio Spurs announced that Jacob Tobey, the team’s lead television play-by-play announcer, was no longer employed. The decision followed a series of Instagram Stories posted on Tobey’s personal account that alleged he had cheated on his six-year-old girlfriend with Loren Waters, identified as the sister of Spurs forward Lindy Waters III. The posts, which went viral before being deleted, showed Tobey alongside Waters and included captions that admitted the alleged affair. Within days, Tobey made his Instagram and X accounts private, and his LinkedIn profile was removed.
Background & Context
Jacob Tobey joined the Spurs ahead of the 2024-25 season after a career that included internships with the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots, a sports anchor stint at 9NEWS in Denver, and freelance work for Fox Sports and the Pac-12 Network. He replaced longtime announcer Bill Land and was expected to continue as the franchise’s television voice regardless of the platform that would carry local broadcasts after the FanDuel Sports Networks shutdown. The Spurs had reached the 2026 NBA Finals the previous season, heightening the visibility of their broadcast team.
Key Figures & Groups
- Jacob Tobey – 29-year-old television play-by-play announcer for the Spurs.
- Loren Waters – Sister of Spurs forward Lindy Waters III; identified in the Instagram posts as the alleged romantic partner.
- San Antonio Spurs – NBA franchise that terminated Tobey’s employment; has not issued a public comment.
- Colin Cowherd – Sports media personality who publicly questioned the legality and fairness of the termination.
Official Statements & Responses
The Spurs organization has not released an official statement regarding Tobey’s departure. Tobey’s own social-media accounts were set to private shortly after the allegations surfaced, and no representative for the broadcaster has responded to inquiries. The lack of comment leaves the precise rationale—whether solely personal misconduct or a perceived conflict of interest—unconfirmed by the franchise.
Criticism & Opposition
Colin Cowherd expressed surprise at the firing, noting, “You can get fired in America for cheating on, not your wife, your girlfriend. Feels like he should hire an attorney.” He further suggested that the Spurs may have viewed the relationship as a conflict of interest, stating, “Perhaps there’s more to this story that hasn’t been made public, or maybe the Spurs considered their TV voice’s relationship with a player’s sister to be too much of a conflict of interest.” Cowherd’s comments highlight debate over at-will employment standards versus potential team-related ethical concerns.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree that Tobey was removed following the Instagram allegations, but no official explanation has been provided by the Spurs. It remains unclear whether the termination was driven solely by the personal scandal, by concerns about a conflict of interest with a player’s family member, or by other undisclosed factors. Additionally, the authenticity of the Instagram posts—whether posted by Tobey, his ex-girlfriend, or a third party—has not been independently verified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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. :),” — Jacob Tobey
- “Me and the new girl LorenkWaters :).” — Jacob Tobey
- “I had no idea that was legal. You can get fired in America for cheating on, not your wife, your girlfriend. Feels like he should hire an attorney. That is a crazy story.” — Colin Cowherd
- “Perhaps there’s more to this story that hasn’t been made public, or maybe the Spurs considered their TV voice’s relationship with a player’s sister to be too much of a conflict of interest.” — Colin Cowherd
- “This is his now ex-girlfriend. I was visiting his family w him for for two weeks (we were on day 3) when I found out about him and Loren. He woke up. And his parents made him take down the story. Stay safe out there, ladies.” — Girlfriend (Instagram story)
