The smooth baritone of Lawrence Tanter was irreplaceable. But after he had retired a few months before his passing, the Los Angeles Lakers were going to appoint the new PA announcer any day now. The team has officially named veteran sports broadcaster and former KTLA anchor Derrin Horton as the team’s new public address announcer for the 2026–27 NBA season.
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Horton steps into the iconic courtside post following the sudden death of legendary public address announcer Lawrence Tanter a week ago. LT, whose unmistakable baritone voice served as the arena soundtrack for Lakers basketball across 43 seasons, passed away on September 23. He had retired in the offseason following a stroke.
The franchise made the official announcement on Thursday, confirming that Horton will make his public address debut on October 8 during a preseason matchup against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena.
Reflecting on the honor of succeeding a revered figure in franchise history, Horton expressed deep emotion about taking over the microphone of a storied franchise while honoring his predecessor’s enduring legacy.
“It’s a dream. I mean, are you kidding me? The Lakers?” Horton said. “Fell in love with Showtime, and when I heard about LT and the opportunity here, I reached out and I had a chance to communicate with LT. He was such a legend, and I considered him to be a friend. So now to be here, obviously, there’s no way you can fill his shoes, and so you just come here with a passion and a goal to be informative and entertaining and be a part of Showtime.”
Horton also recalled an insightful moment during his audition process with Lon Rosen, the Lakers’ president of business operations.
“At first, I showed up, and I’m like, ‘All right, I got to really… Welcome to…’ You know? I’m coming, I’m trying to be this announcer,” Horton recalled. “And Lon Rosen was up in the perch, and he said, ‘Hey! Knock it off! I want to hear your voice.’ And so I just was myself, and that felt really good. He was like, ‘That’s what I want. Just be yourself.’ So that was pretty special.”
Expressing sadness over Tanter’s passing shortly before the season, Horton acknowledged the emotional weight of stepping into those shoes.
“I’ll never be—nobody could be, who could be LT?” Horton said. “His legacy was built over five decades. I’m going to miss him. I was hoping to talk to him before the first game and to get some thoughts from him, but, we’re going to miss him, and I hope I do him proud.”
For Horton, stepping behind the arena microphone represents a personal, full-circle milestone. He first began public address work as a high school student at Holy Cross High School in New York because he was unable to make the varsity basketball team. Years later, his relationship with Tanter was close enough that LT recorded the official wedding reception introduction for Horton and his wife, Elise.
Lawrence Tanter, affectionately known to generations of fans as “LT,” retired from his courtside post in June following a medical hiatus. Tanter suffered a stroke late in the 2025–26 regular season, missing the team’s final six home games and postseason run.
After his retirement, the Lakers probably auditioned Horton, and he was likely hoping to meet LT. But right as the Lakers announced their revamped broadcasting roster with Danny Green and Sasha Vujacic, ahead of Media Day, LT was gone. GM Rob Pelinka opened the preseason media availability with an emotional tribute to Tanter.
Over his historic 43-year tenure, which spanned 10 NBA championships and 16 Western Conference titles, Tanter became an indelible part of the Lakers’ identity with his understated, dignified delivery, jazz-bred voice, and signature call, “The Laker girlllssss.”
Horton brings more than 35 years of broadcasting experience to the role, having covered major sporting events including the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Final, and College Football Playoff National Championship.
A seven-time Emmy Award winner and Syracuse University graduate, Horton’s career encompasses reporting for KCAL-TV, hosting on NFL Network, and performing voice work for NFL Films.
As the Lakers prepare for opening night, Horton aims to respect the fundamentals of game presentation LT established in LA while gradually building his own rapport with the Crypto.com Arena crowd.
Balancing enthusiasm with professional restraint, the long-time Southern California broadcaster steps into one of sports media’s most storied seats, carrying forward a tradition forged across four decades of Lakers basketball history.