LeBron James delivers an emotional goodbye to the Lakers legend Lawrence Tanter

• LeBron James shared a moving message following the passing of longtime Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter.

• Tanter spent 43 seasons as the arena voice of the franchise, announcing ten NBA championships and historic career milestones.

• The Lakers superstar maintained a game day salute ritual at the scorer’s table to honor the broadcaster during his lifetime.

“REST IN PARADISE Lawrence Tanter! Loved seeing you pretty much every home game the last eight years at the scorer’s table and always saluted you because you deserved your flowers while you were alive.” With those heartfelt words shared across social media, LeBron James reacted to the passing of the legendary public address announcer at age 76, making it clear that his loss represents the departure of a vital pillar within his daily Los Angeles experience and the core identity of the storied franchise.

REST IN PARADISE Lawrence Tanter! Loved seeing you pretty much every single home game for the past 8 years at the scores table and always acknowledging you with a 🫡 cause you deserved the 💐 while you were living! Your voice command and echoed throughout

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 24, 2026

The legendary baritone that soundtracked four decades of greatness

Lawrence Tanter was far more than an ordinary arena announcer, serving as the signature vocal identity that guided fans through the most golden eras of Lakers basketball since taking the microphone in 1982. His smooth and dignified baritone delivery narrated the rise of the Showtime era featuring Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the dominant championship runs of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, and the modern era anchored by LeBron James starting in 2018, witnessing ten NBA titles and 16 Western Conference crowns over 43 seasons.

Lawrence Tanter, forever in our hearts as a member of the Lakers family 💜 pic.twitter.com/IOmRECqu8m

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 24, 2026

A pregame ritual rooted in profound mutual respect

For James, Tanter’s presence went well beyond reading player lineups over the public address system before tipoff. Throughout his eight seasons wearing the purple and gold, the NBA superstar established a personal pregame ritual by offering a formal military style salute to Tanter at the scorer’s table before every home contest. That consistent gesture reflected deep admiration for a man who brought understated elegance to the arena while making every contest feel like a major historical event without ever seeking the spotlight for himself.

 

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Soundtrack to LeBron’s most iconic career achievements

Tanter held a front row seat for the most defining moments of James’ tenure in Southern California, anchoring the arena audio during unmatched statistical triumphs. He was at the microphone in 2023 when James surpassed Abdul-Jabbar to become the all time leading scorer in NBA history, and later proclaimed that fans were witnessing history when James eclipsed 50,000 combined points between regular season and playoff action, leaving behind an unforgettable acoustic legacy that will permanently define Lakers basketball history.