Lakers PA Announcer Lawrence Tanter to Miss Friday's Game

Longtime Lakers voice will be absent due to health reasons

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:51am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lawrence Tanter, the iconic public address announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers, will miss the team's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday due to health reasons. Tanter has been the Lakers' PA announcer since the 1982-83 season and is known for his deep, recognizable voice. Jason Barquero will fill in for Tanter, who is 76 years old.

Why it matters

Tanter's voice has been a staple of the Lakers' home games for decades, dating back to the Showtime era. His absence will be noticeable to loyal Lakers fans who have grown accustomed to his distinct announcing style over the years.

The details

Tanter will miss the Lakers' game against the Nets at Crypto.com Arena on Friday. The team has nine regular-season games remaining, six of which will be played at home. Tanter is expected to miss the next two home games against the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers, but it's unclear if he will return for the subsequent road games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks.

  • Tanter has been the Lakers' PA announcer since the 1982-83 season.

The players

Lawrence Tanter

The longtime public address announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers, known for his deep, recognizable voice that has been a staple of Lakers home games for decades.

Jason Barquero

The fill-in public address announcer who will replace Tanter for the Lakers' game against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Lakers have not provided an update on when Tanter is expected to return to his announcing duties.

The takeaway

Tanter's absence will be felt by Lakers fans who have grown accustomed to his distinctive voice over the past four decades. The team will need to adjust to a new PA announcer, at least temporarily, as they make their push for the playoffs.