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Longtime Lakers Announcer Lawrence Tanter Dies at 76
Confirmed
In Short: The Los Angeles Lakers announced the death of their longtime public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter.
Longtime Los Angeles Lakers public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter has died at 76, the team announced Wednesday.
Tanter, known by fans simply as 'LT,' was the longest-tenured PA announcer in Lakers history, having served since 1982.
The team said in a statement, 'We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter.
Tanter's distinctive baritone voice and smooth delivery became synonymous with Lakers games, particularly during the 'Showtime' era and through the franchise's recent championship seasons.
He had suffered a stroke late in the regular season and missed the Lakers' last six home games, plus the playoffs.
In June, Tanter had announced his retirement from the PA announcer role and transitioned to a special adviser for game presentation.
During the NBA's pandemic-era bubble in 2020, Tanter recorded game introductions from his home studio to maintain the familiar atmosphere of Lakers basketball.
Tanter's iconic call of 'The Laker girlllssss' when the dance team finished a routine became a beloved part of the Lakers' gameday experience.
He had been a part of 10 Lakers championships and 16 Western Conference titles.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said in March, 'There’s just, there’s like, it’s almost a comfort level with him being in this arena.
The Lakers have yet to announce Tanter’s replacement for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
What's confirmed
- Longtime Los Angeles Lakers public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter has died, the team announced Wednesday.
- "We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter," the team wrote in a statement shared on its social media accounts.
- "Quote me," he wrote, "'It's been a blessing.'" A post shared by Los Angeles Lakers (@lakers) Known by Lakers fans simply by his initials, LT, Tanter was the longest-tenured PA announcer in team history and was recognized for his style as much as for his longevity.
- Tanter had suffered a stroke late in the regular season and missed the Lakers' last six home games, plus the playoffs.
- Last month, shortly before entering into hospice care, Tanter texted ESPN.
- He went on to be a part of 10 Lakers championships and 16 Western Conference titles.
- The team announced in June that Tanter retired from the position but would remain with the organization as its special adviser for game presentation.
- A post shared by Los Angeles Lakers (@lakers) Tanter had been the Lakers' public address announcer through the 2025- 26 season.
- During the NBA's pandemic-era bubble in 2020, Tanter recorded game introductions from his home studio to help recreate the familiar atmosphere of Lakers basketball.
- Tanter was also a disc jockey for Los Angeles-area radio stations KJLH, KTWV and KKJZ.
- For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena.
- During his absence, Jason Barquero, the public address announcer for the Lakers' G League affiliate, handled duties for the remainder of the season.
What's still developing
- Tanter channeled his parallel career as a disc jockey at various jazz radio stations in L.A. when he reported to the arena, often wearing an eight-panel cap atop his head and sporting a well-manicured white goatee on his chin.
- Despite being equipped with a booming baritone voice and an imposing 6-foot-7 frame, Tanter's presentation relied on restraint, using a silky-smooth delivery to share the Lakers' starting lineups, substitutions, fouls and score announcements with an aim to inform rather than distract the audience.
- Let’s look at how the Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, Suns and Kings approached the offseason ahead of the 2026-27 season.
- The Lakers pick up a shot blocker in Walker Kessler, who missed most of last season with a left shoulder injury.
- Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves will look to spearhead a new-look Lakers squad.
- “A true original that added his unique style to Showtime,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss wrote Wednesday night on X.
- Gifted with a baritone voice that also played on jazz radio (most notably on 94.7 FM/KTWV in Los Angeles), Tanter became synonymous with the Lakers during the team’s “Showtime” Era and through the franchise’s extended period of success with the teams led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
- Tanter served as a program director at multiple different jazz radio stations during his career as the longest-tenured Lakers PA announcer.
- Tanter recorded player intros from his home studio during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing a sense of normalcy to the gameday experience in the Orlando bubble, where the Lakers won the 2020 NBA title.
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