The Los Angeles Lakers named Derrin Horton their new public address announcer Thursday, appointing the veteran sports broadcaster to succeed the late Lawrence Tanter beginning with the 2026-27 season. The team announced the hire on Oct. 1, eight days after Tanter died on Sept. 23 at age 76.
Horton is best known in Los Angeles for his 15 years as the sports anchor at KTLA. He arrives with more than 35 years of sports broadcasting experience, having worked as an anchor, reporter, host and play-by-play announcer for local and national outlets. A seven-time Emmy Award winner, Horton has been based in Southern California for more than 25 years. Speaking with local reporters after the announcement, Horton said, “There’s no way you can fill his shoes.” He added that he had been in contact with Tanter about the job and considered him a friend.
Tanter worked courtside for 43 seasons, a run that spanned 10 NBA championships, 16 Western Conference titles. He suffered a stroke in March and missed the final six regular-season home games and the playoffs. Jason Barquero, the public address announcer for the Lakers’ G League affiliate, handled the end of the season in his absence. When Tanter’s retirement was announced in June, the plan was for him to continue contributing as an adviser on game presentation. Tanter spoke with ESPN shortly before he entered hospice care in August.
The Lakers Went Outside the Building for a Familiar Voice
The Lakers left the job open from Tanter’s June retirement through his death, then went with a broadcaster Los Angeles viewers already know instead of keeping Barquero, the G League announcer who finished 2025-26. That choice favors an established local name over continuity from the fill-in. It also brings in someone with no NBA public address track record, so the team is relying on Horton’s 15 years of KTLA recognition to carry over to an arena role.
There is a small difference in approach to watch. ESPN described Tanter’s style as built on restraint, using a silky-smooth delivery meant to inform without distracting, while Horton described his goal as being informative and entertaining. Horton has also said he won’t try to imitate Tanter. That makes this a change in sound for the arena as well as a change in personnel.
Horton Debuts Oct. 8 Against Sacramento
Horton will make his debut Oct. 8 when the Lakers host the Sacramento Kings in a preseason game at Crypto.com Arena. It will be the third of five games Los Angeles will play during the NBA preseason and the first home crowd to hear a permanent replacement for Tanter.
Source: Yahoo Sports
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