Lawrence Tanter, 76: the voice of 43 Lakers seasons
The Lakers announced Wednesday night that longtime public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter died at 76. Tanter began the job in 1982, narrated 10 NBA titles from the Forum through Crypto.com Arena, and retired from the courtside mic in June after a stroke late in the 2025-26 season. He had shifted into a special-adviser role for game presentation.
The club’s statement: “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter. For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.”
Jeanie Buss posted Thursday morning calling him “a true original that added his unique style to Showtime.” Radio analyst Mychal Thompson publicly hoped the team wears an LT patch this season—that is a suggestion, not a club announcement. Jason Barquero (Coachella Valley / G League PA) filled in late last season; a permanent 2026-27 successor has not been named.
NBA.com · LA Times (Nguyen) · ABC7 / McMenamin · LakersWire (Marvi) · SI / OnSI
Luka in print: “I won’t rest until we win more championships”
Eurohoops (Sept. 24) and secondary outlets amplify a personal essay by Luka Dončić—“To Win It All: On Basketball and Belonging”—inside TASCHEN’s authorized 528-page visual history, Lakers: An Official History of the Purple & Gold. Excerpts shared overnight from Instagram recirculation.
Quoted lines from the essay: he still finds wearing purple and gold surreal; “I desperately want what all Lakers want: To win it all”; “I won’t rest until we win more championships”; and that he is “honored and grateful” for the chance to “write my own championship chapters” in a city used to winning big. He also recounts Jeanie Buss inviting him into her office after the February 2025 trade from Dallas. This is book copy and social recirculation—not a new press conference.
First full season as the sole franchise centerpiece after LeBron’s departure starts with media day in four days.
Eurohoops (Askounis) · HITC (Kulkarni)
Calendar: Media Day live on SportsNet Monday; camp Tuesday
Spectrum SportsNet (Charter press release, Sept. 23) published its 2026-27 Lakers slate: 72 live games (all five preseason + 67 regular-season). Media Day airs live Monday, Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. PT. Preseason opener: Oct. 5, 7 p.m. at Sacramento. SportsNet’s regular-season broadcast kickoff is listed as Oct. 23, 7 p.m. vs the Clippers (national windows can differ from the formal opener).
Booth notes from the release: Bill Macdonald (17th year PBP) with Stu Lantz at home (41st season); road primary analyst Danny Green; sideline Mike Trudell sharing with newcomer Roqui Theus; studio Chris McGee / James Worthy, with Sasha Vujacic joining the analyst rotation. Backstage: Lakers returns Oct. 23 at 10:30 p.m.
Unchanged camp map from prior reporting: training camp Sept. 29; NBA.com / Heavy still frame the regular-season opener as Oct. 21 vs Golden State. The 16-guaranteed / 15-limit trim (Thybulle’s late-July vet min) remains unresolved—no overnight trade or waive.
Spectrum SportsNet / Charter · Heavy (Gregorski) · NBA.com season preview
Ownership: still no overnight BOG vote
No overnight Board of Governors vote reported on the Mark Walter → Joshua Kushner / Bob Iger $12.5B sale. Jeanie Buss remains governor pending the Dec. 8 LA Superior Court hearing on the Buss family-stake petition. The Thrive Capital investor pitch (WSJ, Sept. 18) projecting a path toward ~$30B valuation still stands as the last major ownership document in circulation—pitch deck, not a closed sale or league approval.
WSJ (Toonkel/Maurer) · Hoops Rumors (Sept. 22 notes)
Watch next
- How the franchise marks Tanter’s legacy (patch, ceremony, permanent PA hire).
- Media day Sept. 28 ~11 a.m. PT (SportsNet live) · camp Sept. 29.
- Fifth-starter / cut clock: Price’s LaRavia lean vs prior WC-coach Williams lean; Knecht still the clearest bubble name in recent analysis.
- Preseason opener Oct. 5 at Sacramento · regular-season opener framed Oct. 21 vs Golden State.
- Kushner/Iger sale: next BOG vote window; Dec. 8 Buss stake hearing.