The Lakers are mourning one of the most familiar voices in franchise history. Lawrence Tanter, the team’s legendary public address announcer, died Wednesday night at the age of 76.
Tanter had been part of the Lakers experience since 1982, a courtside constant through the Showtime years at The Forum, Kobe Bryant’s title runs at Staples Center and the team’s current era at Crypto.com Arena. For generations of fans, his voice was as much a part of a Lakers night as the game itself.
Over the years, Tanter made his mark with calls fans could spot instantly. He was known for stretching out “Koooobe Bryant,” delivering “too many steps” on a traveling violation and punctuating late-quarter moments with his signature “twooo minutes” announcement. One of his most memorable gestures came in 2020 after Bryant’s death, when he introduced all of the team’s starters as “Kobe Bryant” as a tribute to the late Lakers star.
The team announced Tanter’s passing on Sept. 23, and tributes quickly followed from across the basketball world. Jeanie Buss responded on X, writing: “A true original that added his unique style to Showtime. Rest in peace, LT. https://t.co/GTDopukHGs”
Among those sharing their grief was Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who posted: “I am so sad to hear. He was a great vibe dude, always engaged me in conversation about jazz, he was a music lover and the best announcer in the nba.
I realized when attending many other nba arenas that noone else came close. Bless his beautiful heart. https://t.co/8gVC9YmFPL”
Former Lakers player and current ESPN 710 radio color commentator Mychal Thompson said the franchise should honor Tanter with a patch on the team’s jerseys during the 2026-27 NBA season.
Tanter’s place in Lakers history is now alongside another unforgettable voice, Chick Hearn, whose own legacy has remained tied to the franchise since his death in 2002.
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