When thinking of the Los Angeles Lakers and their franchise history, the likes of Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn and Dr. Jerry Buss are among those that immediately come to mind.
While the aforementioned group made for memorable moments and/or ushered the Lakers to championships, several of them share a link through public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter. His voice and pitch are unmistakable.
Whether going through lineups before an NBA Finals game or welcoming the droves of fans who have attended a Lakers game for the last three decades, Tanter represents a model of consistency and dedication.
On Tuesday, the Lakers announced he will return for an unprecedented 36th season as the team’s PA announcer:
We're happy to announce that the legendary voice of Lawrence Tanter will boom through the PA system at #LakeShow games for a 36th straight season in 2018-19. pic.twitter.com/U0YyXMFXsb
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 18, 2018
Tanter’s style is unlike what most teams have reverted to. Rather than scream, his delivery is calm and cool, which allows for the Lakers and Staples Center to be the focal point.
Tanter missed two games this season due to feeling under the weather, which marked a first since 1997, or a stretch of more than 200 games. He returned April 8 and called the Lakers’ final two home games of the season, which unfortunately were losses.