Lawrence Tanter, the Lakers’ public-address announcer for 43 years, died Wednesday at 76, the team announced. A stroke forced him out of game-day duties in March, and he moved into an advisory role in June.
Tanter joined the Lakers in 1982, when the team played at the Forum, and announced eras featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Luka Dončić. Known for his measured baritone and signature calls, he was inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcaster Hall of Fame.
Days after Kobe Bryant died in 2020, Tanter led a tearful pregame tribute at a sold-out Lakers game, introducing all five starters with a familiar call for Bryant. The team said Tanter’s voice had been the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena for 43 years.
