Voice of the Lakers
Longtime Los Angeles Lakers Public Address Announcer Lawrence Tanter Passes Away at 76
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Key Points
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During Tanter’s tenure, the Lakers made 15 NBA Finals appearances and won nine championships; he also was part of 10 championship runs and 16 Western Conference championship seasons.
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Tanter began his broadcasting career while playing basketball at the University of Dubuque, a Division III school in Iowa, before moving into his long Lakers announcing career.
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Lakers coach JJ Redick described Tanter’s presence as reassuring, saying, “It’s almost a comfort level with him being in this arena.”
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Outside basketball, Tanter spent more than three decades as an on-air personality and program director at Southern California jazz stations, including KKJZ and KTWV 94.7 The Wave.
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Tanter announced Lakers games in multiple home venues, beginning at the Great Western Forum and later continuing at Staples Center, now Crypto.com Arena; the Athletic identified him as the longest-tenured public address announcer in franchise history.
Lawrence Tanter, the voice of the Los Angeles Lakers for 43 seasons, has died at 76, the team announced. Known as the "Voice of the Lakers," Tanter began announcing games during the 1982-83 season and became woven into the fabric of the franchise through the Showtime era, the Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant championship runs, and LeBron James' tenure. The Athletic identified him as the longest-tenured public address announcer in franchise history.
Tanter retired after the 2025-26 season and continued with the Lakers as a special adviser on game presentation. New York Post reported that he suffered a stroke late in the regular season. His signature voice and warm presence in the arena drew widespread tributes from players, coaches, broadcasters, and fans across the basketball world.
A Voice Spanning Four Decades of Lakers History
During Tanter's 43-year tenure, the Lakers made 15 NBA Finals appearances and won nine championships. He was part of 10 championship runs and 16 Western Conference championship seasons, announcing some of the biggest moments in franchise history. His presence stretched from the Great Western Forum through the team's moves to Staples Center and now Crypto.com Arena.
Coach JJ Redick described Tanter's role as deeply reassuring. "It's almost a comfort level with him being in this arena," Redick said. For generations of Lakers fans, Tanter's voice became as much a part of game day as the final buzzer.
From Iowa Basketball to Southern California Radio
Before his legendary run with the Lakers, Tanter began his broadcasting career while playing basketball at the University of Dubuque, a Division III school in Iowa. He later built a parallel career spanning more than three decades in Southern California radio, working as an on-air personality and program director at jazz stations including KKJZ and KTWV 94.7 The Wave.
This dual career—anchoring Lakers games while developing a respected presence in regional radio—cemented Tanter's status as a fixture of Los Angeles sports and entertainment culture beyond just the basketball arena.
Tributes Pour In From Players and Franchise Leadership
LeBron James and Luka Dončić joined Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss in paying tribute to Tanter following the announcement. Yahoo Sports covered the reactions from players and team leadership who emphasized Tanter's irreplaceable role in the Lakers experience. His voice had become inseparable from how fans remembered their favorite moments.
Tanter remained connected to the franchise even after retirement, serving as a special adviser on game presentation. The Lakers organization has not yet announced plans for how the team will honor his legacy or fill the role he held for nearly four and a half decades.
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