Lawrence Tanter, Lakers public address announcer for 43 years, dies at 76
Lawrence Tanter, the voice of Los Angeles Lakers basketball for four decades, died Wednesday at age 76. He announced 10 NBA championships and narrated the careers of Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James during his 43-year tenure beginning in 1982.
Lawrence Tanter, whose voice defined the Los Angeles Lakers experience for four decades, died Wednesday at age 76. He served as the team's public address announcer for 43 years, starting in 1982. During his tenure, Tanter announced 10 NBA championships and 16 Western Conference titles for the franchise. According to CBS Sports, he narrated the careers of some of basketball's most prominent players, including Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James. Tanter suffered a stroke earlier in 2026 and missed the end of that season. Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss said at the time of his retirement, per CBS Sports: "Since the 1980s, LT has narrated every chapter of Lakers basketball, connecting generations of fans, players, coaches and staff while becoming a trusted and unforgettable part of the Lakers experience." When Tanter entered hospice care in summer 2026, he told ESPN: "It's been a blessing."
Tanter served as the Lakers' public address announcer for 43 years, from 1982 onward, and was the iconic voice of the franchise through 10 championship seasons.
Tanter's 43-year run behind the microphone spanned from Magic's first Lakers season through LeBron's arrival, making him a continuity figure across the franchise's most dominant era.
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