Legendary Lakers Public Address Announcer Lawrence Tanter Dies at 76

Lawrence Tanter, who served as the Lakers' public address announcer for 43 years and 10 championships, has died at age 76.

The Los Angeles Lakers announced Wednesday that longtime public address announcer Lawrence Tanter has died at age 76. Known as "LT," the Chicago native manned the microphone for the franchise for 43 years, a tenure that spanned from the 1980s "Showtime" era through 10 NBA championships and 16 Western Conference titles. Tanter had recently retired in June 2026 following a stroke suffered late in the regular season, which caused him to miss the team's final six home games and the playoffs.

Standing 6-foot-7, the former University of Dubuque forward was recognized for a restrained, "silky-smooth" delivery that drew on his experience as a jazz radio disc jockey. His signature calls included the introduction of "The Laker girlllssss" and a poignant tribute following Kobe Bryant’s death in 2020, where he introduced every Lakers starter using Bryant’s credentials. During the 2019-20 NBA bubble in Orlando, Tanter provided player introductions recorded from his home studio in Porter Ranch.

Before his death, Tanter had transitioned into an advisory role with the organization. Jason Barquero, the announcer for the Lakers' G League affiliate, filled in during Tanter's absence at the end of last season. According to ESPN, the Lakers have not yet named a permanent successor for the 2026-27 season.