The veteran Los Angeles broadcaster officially succeeds Lawrence Tanter, the legendary voice of the Lakers who died at 76.
The Los Angeles Lakers have officially named veteran broadcaster Derrin Horton as their new public address announcer.
The Lakers confirmed the decision in a statement released Thursday.
Horton succeeds legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter, who retired in June after 43 seasons behind the microphone. Tanter died Wednesday at the age of 76, the Lakers announced.
Tanter began working as the Lakers’ public address announcer in 1982 and provided the in-arena soundtrack for 10 of the franchise’s NBA championship seasons. Following his retirement, the Lakers said he would remain with the organization as a special adviser for game presentation.
Jason Barquero handled public address duties during the latter portion of the season after Tanter stepped away.
The appointment begins a new chapter for the Lakers as the organization continues mourning and honoring the longtime voice of the franchise.
Horton brings decades of experience across Southern California television, radio and professional sports.
He previously worked as a sports anchor and reporter for KTLA and has handled play-by-play assignments involving the Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, UCLA basketball and other prominent Southern California teams. Horton has also worked extensively in sports radio and television throughout his career.
Horton’s familiarity with Los Angeles sports and his distinctive broadcasting voice make him a natural choice for one of the most recognizable public address positions in professional basketball.
In the role, Horton faces the difficult task of following an announcer whose voice became inseparable from the Lakers experience.
Tanter introduced generations of Lakers stars, from the Showtime era of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the championship teams led by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol. He remained behind the microphone through the franchise’s 2020 championship season.
Nobody can replace what Tanter meant to the Lakers or duplicate the presence he brought to the arena for more than four decades.
Horton will begin a new era while following one of the most respected and enduring voices in Los Angeles sports history.
Horton now becomes the next voice Lakers fans will hear inside Crypto.com Arena.