The Los Angeles Lakers have named Lawrence Tanter as Special Advisor for Game Presentation. The move follows his retirement after 43 seasons as the team’s public address announcer.
What We Know: Tanter has served as the Lakers’ PA announcer since 1982. In his new advisory role, he will apply his institutional knowledge to shape the franchise’s future game presentation. The Chicago native called 10 NBA championships and 16 Western Conference titles during his tenure. Notably, during the 2020 NBA Bubble, he recorded game introductions from his home studio to preserve the familiar Lakers atmosphere.
What They Said: Los Angeles Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss: “Lawrence Tanter has been an integral part of the Lakers gameday experience for more than four decades, setting the tone for countless memorable moments with his professionalism, energy and signature booming voice. 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. I am incredibly grateful for everything he has given to this franchise.”
What Remains Unclear: The Lakers have not yet announced who will succeed Tanter behind the courtside microphone. It also remains to be seen how his advisory role will formally integrate into the team’s game presentation structure.
What It Means: Tanter’s transition reflects a growing trend of franchises keeping legendary figures involved beyond their on-floor roles. Rather than simply moving on, the Lakers are retaining one of professional sports’ most recognizable voices as an institutional resource.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
