David Robinson #50, Center for the San Antonio Spurs prepares to shoot a free throw during the NBA Pacific Division basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2nd December 1994 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon, United States. The Portland Trail Blazers won the game 104 - 92. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
David Robinson was never supposed to be a star. A high school nerd, Robinson was one of the last great sleepers. His college coach, Paul Evans, recruited him to Navy because he was 6-6 and had big feet.
Seriously. He thought Robinson’s feet suggested that he was going to grow some more, and at the time, Navy had a height limit. Getting a taller player in would have been a real coup.
He never expected to get a 7-1 Hall of Famer, but that’s what Robinson turned into.
He soon emerged as a surprise talent at Navy, and in 1986, only Duke kept the Middies from the Final Four, knocking Navy out in the Elite Eight.
In the NBA, he went toe-to-toe with players like Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Ultimately, he also played on the Dream Team and won two NBA championships before having his #50 retired by the San Antonio Spurs.
Later, his son Justin became a preferred walk-on at Duke, where he was a fan favorite and was emerging as a critical player for the Blue Devils just as Covid hit.
It’s a question at the center of too many bad internet debates. “I bet you don’t even play ball.”
Does that matter?
Where is the line? Is the worth of an opinion weighed by the level of basketball? A D1 rec league player is allowed to comment on the NBA, but D3 is out?
It’s an ad hominem. The opinion is independent of the opinion holder. Still, we plebeians ought to remember that we don’t always know. There’s something strange, optically, about a high school social studies teacher publicly declaring that an NBA head coach ought to have one more season to prove his worth. Yet, here goes:
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka should only have one more season to prove his worth.
Rockets’ Ime Udoka has been a strong coach
It won’t be an unpopular opinion in these quarters!
You guys really, really don’t like Udoka. Opinions vary, yes, but the consensus leans heavily in one direction.
Perhaps my eyes don’t work so well. I’m not as low on Udoka. I think he’s, at a minimum, a top-15 coach in the NBA:
But creeping into the upper half isn’t a sound approach to job security as an NBA head coach.
We should all agree that Udoka is a strong defensive coach. There’s been some dispute over the extent to which he relies on lineups to bolster that defense. It’s been argued that if he can’t scheme around Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard, his defensive success is less about acumen and more about putting good defenders on the floor.
It could also be argued that God his -or-her self could not design a scheme that protects Sengun and Sheppard at the same time. Udoka has proven his ability to maximize Sengun on that end of the floor. His inability to draw blood from a stone should not discredit his ability to smelt iron from one.
It’s Udoka’s offensive know-how that’s rightly questioned; however, the numbers do not support that line of questioning. In Udoka’s two seasons at the helm, the Rockets ranked twelfth (114.9) and eighth (117.5) in Offensive Rating.
So, on paper, the question becomes “What are we even talking about?” Udoka has hovered around a top-ten offense in two consecutive seasons, and a top-five defense in each (sixth in 2024-25, fifth in 2025-26). If that’s enough to get his seat hot, almost every coach in the NBA should be developing back problems from constantly standing.
So what are we doing?
Rockets’ Ime Udoka’s seat should be getting hot
For Udoka critics, it’s less about the offensive results and more about the process.
Last year’s 36.3% Offensive Rebounding % was the highest in the NBA by a country mile. The gap between Houston and the second-place Portland Trail Blazers (33.2%) was roughly the same as the gap between the Blazers and the eighth-ranked Charlotte Hornets (30.8%).
In 2024-25, the recipe was rebounding and turnover repression – in the vernacular of the youth, “possession maxxing”. Last year, Fred VanVleet was out, but Kevin Durant replaced Jalen Green offensively, so the recipe was tweaked – more turnovers, but better shots, and the same offensive rebounding dominance.
In theory, 2026-27 could combine the best of both worlds. The Rockets will be formidable:
But if they don’t escape the first round, it’s a moot point.
That’s the real reality of Udoka’s situation. If a coach is eliminated in the first round in three straight seasons, the “why” is less relevant than the “what” – you fire them.
Those process-focused critics will argue that Udoka’s approach is not playoff-viable. The data is on their side, although the causation is unclear. It could easily be argued that other variables have hurt the Rockets’ playoff success.
In 2024-25, it made sense for an aging dynasty to beat an unproven upstart. The Rockets ran into the Warriors, triggering PTSD for every Rockets fan who was not born roughly yesterday.
Last year was both simpler and more complicated. Durant played one game. That’s worth noting, but injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves mitigate that excuse. Getting beat by Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart was a bad look. At least Smart is a Rocket now:
So prepare yourself for his shooting regression.
What if everyone had been healthy? Could Houston have exploited Reaves defensively to such an extent as to offset his offensive ability? Would Doncic have carried the day, or would Durant overcome him down the stretch? We don’t know; we can’t know; we won’t know.
Here’s what we do know: Udoka has one more season. It doesn’t matter where you land on him. It doesn’t matter if his offensive approach has playoff viability.
Frankly, his iso-heavy approach, paired with an insistence that his team outworks the other team, feels more playoff-friendly than some kind of elaborate system anyway, but if it doesn’t yield playoff results, it doesn’t matter. When you lose in the first round for three consecutive seasons, you lose your job:
The Golden State Warriors enter the 2026-27 season as an afterthought to some but are one of the more profound sleeper teams in the league. Golden State returns with practically the same roster from last season, only adding their 2026 draft picks and a couple free agent signings.
The Warriors battled extensive injuries throughout the previous season and managed to sneak into the NBA Play-In Tournament, but failed to make the playoffs, losing in an elimination game for the No. 8-seed to the Phoenix Suns. It was just the second time since their 2022 championship that they missed the postseason which brought questions whether it was the last dance.
With an eerily similar roster, Golden State are putting emphasis on team-chemistry but they remain one of the deadlier threats on one contingency – maintaining health. Jimmy Butler missed 44 games with a torn ACL injury last season, while Moses Moody is recovering from a patellar tendon tear in his left knee that caused him to miss the final 22 games. Curry was out 27 games last year with jumper's knee. They answered questions at center by acquiring versatile big man Kristaps Porzingis in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks, but he played on minute-restrictions as he recovered from earlier injuries and illness. Still, his natural fit, and the need to fill the position, was every reason for the Warriors to sign him to an extension this offseason.
Golden State has perennial "what-if" potential and there's belief within the organization that – if healthy – there is a path to a championship.
Here's a breakdown of the Golden State Warriors' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
C Quinten Post (free agent, Warriors decline offer)
F Pat Spencer (free agent)
Biggest question entering training camp
Can the Warriors remain healthy enough to compete?
The Warriors have a variety of questions to answer: will rookie Yaxel Lendeborg have an immediate impact? will Brandin Podziemski get a new contract? how will new additions fit-in? how consistent can this supporting cast be? However none of those questions the Golden States faces are larger than the question of their health. Last year, despite all the setbacks, they managed to squeak into the Play-In tournament. The likelihood of aging superstars being 100% by April takes some luck, simply put. If the Warriors are healthy, you can place them on the court with anyone and there's belief they have a chance to win.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Stephen Curry
G Jimmy Butler (ACL) - Expected by early 2027
F Yaxel Lendborg
F Draymond Green
C Kristaps Porzingis
Rotation players
G Brandon Williams
G Brandin Podziemski
G Gary Payton II
G De'Anthony Melton
F Gui Santos
F Georges Niang
C Charles Bassey
C Al Horford
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Warriors have potential to be in the mix for a Western Conference postseason berth on the strength of returning players and building on team chemistry. But first they have to get there through enduring a grueling 82-game season that's already starting without key guys, Butler and Moody. It expected that Curry will do what he's capable of doing, even still at 38. The Warriors will only go as far as Curry can take them but their focus will be on everyone else. How guys acclimate to Kerr's system, where else offensive production comes from and the little details defensively is how success will appear in the Bay Area. In the meantime, getting – and staying – healthy is the Warriors' No. 1 priority.
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How will LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga reshape Minnesota’s offense?
In the past three seasons, the Timberwolves have reached the conference finals twice. Last year, they failed to get out of the second round. Each time, the opposing team did the same thing: they threw extra bodies and double teams at Anthony Edwards, forcing him to be more of a facilitator than a pure scorer. Minnesota’s other players, however, could never generate enough offense to propel the Timberwolves through. Now, Edwards will have other outlets who can create offense, most notably LaMelo Ball, who should take over ball-handling duties. Ball can also create his own shot, though he was a high-volume option in Charlotte. Here, he’ll need to be more selective, and free agent addition Jonathan Kuminga is another threat who can slash to the rim. Both players are defensive liabilities, though the Timberwolves have enough in Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels to mask those deficiencies. The big question, however, lies on offense, and whether Ball and Kuminga (and guard Ayo Dosunmu, who shined in the playoffs) can take enough pressure off of Edwards.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G LaMelo Ball
G Anthony Edwards
F Jonathan Kuminga
F Jaden McDaniels
C Rudy Gobert
Rotation players
G Ayo Dosunmu
G Terrence Shannon Jr.
F Joan Beringer
G Donte DiVincenzo (injured)
G Isaiah Evans
G Bones Hyland
F Cody Williams
F Enrique Freeman
C Rocco Zikarsky
F Jaylen Clark
What to expect in 2026-27 season
A team taking chances to break through. Look for Minnesota to scheme up ways for LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga, Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu to get easy offense. In theory, that should allow Anthony Edwards to both conserve energy and pick his spots. Furthermore, if teams continue to double Edwards, that should give him plenty of viable options to knock down shots. Minnesota’s defense may take a bit of a step back, but an increase in shooting productivity makes the Timberwolves an interesting team to watch. But with the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and other teams looming in the West, the path won’t be easy. The Timberwolves do deserve some credit, however, for understanding they needed to make tweaks to stay competitive, especially if they were unwilling to pay Julius Randle. One role that remains up for grabs is sixth man, where Naz Reid had shined. Could that become a spot for Dosunmu? Or, perhaps Kuminga, if he becomes a reserve? Either way, the Timberwolves will need a spark off the bench.
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After making the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons — but failing to get past the second round in each of those trips — the Sixers overhauled their front office and roster to seriously contend for an NBA championship.
Will this superteam gel, and is it built to win a title?
If there was one team that went all-in this offseason, it was the 76ers, who made massive splashes with their trade for five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown and their signing of NBA icon LeBron James. And with that, suddenly, the Sixers have the best starting lineup in the Eastern Conference, from top to bottom. The issue with superteams is that players are forced to sacrifice and alter their traditional styles of play. That might mean Brown taking on a far smaller usage share, or James limiting his jumpshot attempts in favor of play-making. The reality is that there may be a learning curve and period of assimilation. To be clear: this is a good problem for coach Nick Nurse and the Sixers to have. But expectations — both internal and external — will be sky-high, as these moves were clearly made to deliver a championship, which would be Philadelphia’s first in 44 years. The other question lingering within this larger question is whether star center and former MVP Joel Embiid, who has played just 96 of a possible 246 games (39%) across the last three seasons, can stay healthy.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Tyrese Maxey
G VJ Edgecombe
F Jaylen Brown
F LeBron James
C Joel Embiid
Rotation players
F Dean Wade
G Anfernee Simons
G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
G Labaron Philon Jr.
C Adem Bona
C Ariel Hukporti
F Dominick Barlow
F Justin Edwards
What to expect in 2026-27 season
A team that is making a push for a championship. The 76ers are all-in and will have to incorporate new star players Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. It will also be interesting to see how Tyrese Maxey’s role changes with all this; in the games Embiid missed last season, Maxey took on a massive offensive responsibility. As long as the Sixers embrace movement and sharing the ball, the offense should prove to be incredibly difficult to defend. The issue for Philadelphia will be on the other side of the court; the 76ers may struggle to defend opposing offenses. Another thing the 76ers should do is limit the regular-season workloads of James and Embiid, the latter of whom seemingly has worked to get in excellent shape this offseason. Philadelphia may very well end up with the top seed in the East. The real test will be what the Sixers do in the postseason.
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The Detroit Pistons were an overwhelming success last season, finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. But a discouraging playoff exit in the conference semifinals and an unnerving offseason have tempered expectations heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.
There are lingering questions after the Pistons couldn't replicate their regular-season performance in the playoffs as to whether the roster is good enough to match or even approach what they did a season ago, reaching 60 wins for the first time in 20 years. Duren's status looms large for the franchise's trajectory, but Detroit should remain a dangerous threat in the Eastern Conference as long as Cunningham is healthy.
Here's a breakdown of the Detroit Pistons' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Can the Pistons find common ground with Jalen Duren?
Jalen Duren's playoff performance last year failed to match his breakthrough 2025-26 regular season and that dynamic has complicated contract extension negotiations with the Pistons. Duren is a restricted free agent who, as of Sept. 17, had yet to even sign a qualifying offer from Detroit, with reports indicating mutual interest with the Sacramento Kings. The Pistons are taking an understandable approach with Duren given his limitations, but their ceiling this season and beyond is considerably lower without their All-Star center.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Cade Cunningham
G Isaiah Joe
G Ausar Thompson
F John Collins
C Jalen Duren
Rotation players
G Daniss Jenkins
G Duncan Robinson
G/F Kevin Huerter
F Ron Holland III
F Taurean Prince
C Paul Reed
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Pistons have the fifth-best NBA title odds among Eastern Conference teams entering the preseason, but there remain doubts about whether their offseason moves improved the team enough. Cunningham's emergence as one of the league's best players gives this team a high floor and should keep Detroit among the top six in the East. Advancing past the conference semifinals this year will depend on how the front office sorts out its differences with Duren and whether Joe or Collins emerges as a viable third option.
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Paolo Banchero hit an overtime game-winner in Brooklyn in January. Three months later he dropped 38 points on 14-for-25 shooting in a Game 7, and the Orlando Magic still lost by 22.
That gap, between what Banchero can do alone and what happens when nobody else shows up, cost coach Jamahl Mosley his job.
Orlando let Mosley go in May and hired Sean Sweeney, who arrived with a defensive reputation and a mandate to fix an offense that has finished 19th or worse in efficiency three consecutive years. Then the Magic did essentially nothing else. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said in the spring that the summer would be quiet, and it was. Nikola Vucevic came back on a minimum deal. Jonathan Isaac and Jevon Carter re-signed on minimums. Moritz Wagner left. That's the offseason.
Weltman's position is that Orlando was a top-five defensive and top-10 offensive team when healthy, and that the roster already contains everything it needs.
Here's a breakdown of the Orlando Magic's offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
Orlando shot 39.7% from the field across seven playoff games against the Pistons and scored 97.7 points per game in that series. Five players in the rotation were top-eight draft picks, and Banchero's 53% career effective field goal percentage is lower than every top-five pick taken since 2018 except Cooper Flagg. Sweeney inherits the best young defensive personnel in the East and a shot diet that has never once worked in a playoff game. He has one summer of tape and no new players to blame.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Jalen Suggs
G Desmond Bane
F Franz Wagner
F Paolo Banchero
C Wendell Carter Jr.
Rotation players
G Anthony Black
G Jase Richardson
F Tristan da Silva
F Noah Penda
C Goga Bitadze
C Nikola Vucevic
What to expect in 2026-27 season
Health is the bet. Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs have each missed significant time in back-to-back seasons, and Suggs has admitted his playing style is part of why. The Suggs-Bane-Wagner-Banchero-Carter group was a plus-13.5 in 272 minutes last season, including the postseason, which is both encouraging and a reminder of how rarely they were all upright at once.
Vucevic gives Sweeney a backup center who can shoot, which Orlando badly needed and got for the minimum.
Nothing else about this team changed. The Magic are running back a 45-win roster with a rookie head coach in a conference that added two former NBA Finals MVPs during the summer.
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The core is filled with compelling young pieces, with Boozer joined by recent first-round picks Cedric Coward and Zach Edey. Jerami Grant, who arrived via the Morant trade, as well as returning guard Ty Jerome give Memphis some experience and should help avoid finishing in the Western Conference cellar.
Though this team isn't expected to be a contender, there's intrigue that this rebuild could come together quicker than expected.
Here's a breakdown of the Memphis Grizzlies' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
The Grizzlies’ 2024 first-round pick has been an effective anchor in the paint when healthy, and Memphis drafted Boozer, in part, because of his potential long-term fit alongside the 7-foot-3 Edey. But the 24-year old from Purdue played in just 11 games due to a lingering foot injury that required a second surgery in March. How quickly the Grizzlies’ rebuilding plans take shape depends on Edey’s availability and whether the double-double he averaged last year is sustainable over an entire season.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Ty Jerome
G Cedric Coward
F Jerami Grant
F Cameron Boozer
C Zach Edey
Rotation players
G Scotty Pippen Jr.
G/F Jaylen Wells
F Karim Lopez
F/C Quinten Post
C Isaiah Stewart
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Memphis Grizzlies are a candidate to exceed expectations and challenge for a postseason berth in the West if their young core can come together quickly this season. The full-time return of Jerome, as well as the consistent presence of Edey and the health of guard Scotty Pippen Jr., are crucial for the team's chances of approaching a .500 record. The bet here is the Memphis front office's strong draft track record pays off again, and this group is battling for one of the final play-in spots by the end of this season.
OAKLAND – As summer ends with the Warriors responding to a forgettable season with marginal moves, forming twin clouds of disappointment and despair above Dub Nation. The outlook for next season would seem to be gloomy.
But the brightest star in Golden State’s solar system remains cool and analytical. Stephen Curry, observing the franchise from views both panoramic and microscopic, straddles encouragement with anticipation.
Which is partly why Curry’s contract extension – he has been eligible for almost four weeks – remains on hold not because of complications but by choice.
“This is a very unique situation,” Curry said late Wednesday afternoon after visiting a school in east Oakland. “I’ve been pretty straightforward and honest about it: I’m not going anywhere. There are just dynamics of where we’ve been the last four years, where we’re trying to go, and things that are related to my contract that can determine a lot of different things.”
The abiding sense is that Curry longs for reasons to believe with his entire soul that the Warriors are headed up rather than staying relatively flat. He’s not entirely there yet. He is, for now, leaning on hope.
Curry joined the rest of his teammates earlier this week for a sort of conclave arranged by Jimmy Butler III in San Diego. It’s the same way the Warriors closed last summer, the group gathering to spend time together, equal parts re-bonding and sharpening focus as training camp begins next week.
“We just had a great little minicamp as a team and got together for the whole team for the first time,” Curry said. “It was great to see everybody and get prepared for the year, which is where my mind is at really.”
Curry, 38, wants to play with a quality roster, one capable of crashing the postseason party and playing well beyond April. He absolutely wants it to be in Golden State, partly out of loyalty and partly out of stability. He has spent 80 percent of his adult life living and playing in the Bay Area, enjoying the highs and enduring the lows while remaining steadfast to the belief there will be more highs.
How can Steph know? He can’t.
The Warriors are drifting toward a season steeped in trepidation. Last season went south after Butler and Curry went down 11 days apart. Butler, the starting small forward, is expected to miss at least three months. The status of starting center Kristaps Porziņģis is questionable until confirmed otherwise. Al Horford, who missed 37 games last season, returns as a 40-year-old backup to Porziņģis. Draymond Green, 36, is being asked to adjust his role in the offense. Coach Steve Kerr took a month off before deciding to return.
And the youngsters, while showing shades of promise last season, ultimately proved not ready to shine without the veterans.
So, please understand if Curry is in no hurry to sign an extension. He is studying Golden State’s landscape before pinning himself – or the franchise – into an inflexible position.
“I’m pretty sure . . . just know the dynamics of our team, where we’re at, and all that,” Curry said. “It’s not really an obvious type of ‘Let’s just do this and keep it moving’ type situation. This is one of the rare ones in my career (where) you’re trying to make sure you have peace of mind with it all. I don’t know if there’s any more new information. It’s just the conviction of I’m doing the right thing for me, for the team, for now, for the future, like all those things.
“And it’s obvious I don’t have that many more bats at the plate. So just want to make sure I’m doing right by me and by the team.”
Curry never has been a free agent. Never wanted to be. His goal is to retire with the same franchise that brought him into the NBA. To represent one franchise, like Kobe Bryant with the Lakers and Tim Duncan with the Spurs and Dirk Nowitzki with the Mavericks.
That desire, while admirable, has given Golden State’s shot-callers enough comfort to feel less urgency than they otherwise might. The longshot pursuit of LeBron James deep into July was, in a sense, a desperate attempt to upgrade the roster. A belated effort to assuage Curry’s aspirations.
It failed, and now Curry is in observation mode. A contract extension is the least of his worries. He’s preparing to play basketball at an All-Star level while also inspecting potential organizational moves up close and from a distance.
Whether Steph or Stephen or Wardell, he is a skilled multitasker. Don’t doubt he can do that and still get buckets.
Los Angeles Laker announcer Lawrence Tanter before the start of the LakersTimberwolves game at Staples Center on March 18, 2011. (Photo by Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Late Wednesday night, the Lakers announced that longtime PA announcer and voice of the Lakers and Staples Center and Crypto.com Arena, Lawrence Tanter, had passed away.
We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter. For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.
With a career that began in 1982, Tanter saw countless players, teams, dynasties and Hall of Fame careers come and go through multiple arenas. As a result, Tanter is one of those people who everyone has a positive story about.
A true original that added his unique style to Showtime. Rest in peace, LT. https://t.co/GTDopukHGs
I am so sad to hear. He was a great vibe dude, always engaged me in conversation about jazz, he was a music lover and the best announcer in the nba. I realized when attending many other nba arenas that noone else came close. Bless his beautiful heart. https://t.co/8gVC9YmFPL
For me, the moment I associate with and remember the most from Tanter was when he announced every Laker as Kobe Bryant in the first game after his passing.
“He’s an iconic voice,” head coach JJ Redick said back in March when Tanter initially stepped away from the team. “Playing against the Lakers for 15 years…just playing against them in the Finals, it’s almost a comfort with him being in this arena.”
I think I speak for all Lakers fans when I say that Lakers games are never goign to be the same without him.
“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter,” the Lakers said in a statement Wednesday. “For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.”
Tanter began working as the Lakers’ P.A. announcer during the 1982-83 season, with his signature smooth delivery and baritone voice being a fixture at the franchise’s home games for over 40 years.
Longtime Lakers P.A. announcer Lawrence Tanter died at the age of 76. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Lakers won 10 NBA championships during Tanter’s tenure with the franchise.
“A true original that added his unique style to Showtime,” Lakers governor and co-owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement. “Rest in peace, LT.”
Tanter retired as the Lakers’ P.A. announcer in June, ending a 43-season run, with the team saying at the time that he’d continue to work with the franchise as a special advisor for game presentation.
He was the longest tenured P.A. announcer in franchise history.
“Lawrence Tanter has been an integral part of the Lakers gameday experience for more than four decades, setting the tone for countless memorable moments with his professionalism, energy and signature booming voice,” Buss said in a statement in June. “Since the 1980s, LT has narrated every chapter of Lakers basketball, connecting generations of fans, players, coaches and staff while becoming a trusted and unforgettable part of the Lakers experience. I am incredibly grateful for everything he has given to this franchise.”
Tanter missed the Lakers’ last six regular season home games and the playoffs after a health setback.
ESPN reported that Tanter suffered a stroke in March.
The team didn’t name Tanter’s successor after his retirement.
Longtime Lakers announcer Lawrence Tanter retired in June. AP
Jason Barquero, the P.A. announcer for the Lakers’ G League affiliate, filled in for Tanter to close out the 2025-26 season.
“He’s an iconic voice,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said in March after Tanter’s first absence. “It’s almost a comfort level with him being in this arena.”
Tanter was born in Chicago in 1949.
Lawrence Tanter was the Lakers’ longest-tenured P.A. announcer. NBAE via Getty Images
Standing at 6-foot-7, Tanter played forward on his high school basketball team and earned a scholarship to play at the University of Dubuque.
He moved to Southern California in the early 1970s before working at radio station KJLH, and eventually joining the Lakers.
Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter sits courtside before the start of a home game against the Timberwolves on March 18, 2011 (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers’ longtime public address announcer Lawrence Tanter died Wednesday, the team announced. He was 76.
Remembered for his smooth, baritone voice, Tanter served as the voice of the Lakers for more than four decades. Tanter narrated chapters of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and now Luka Doncic. After a stroke suffered in March forced him to retire from his game day role, he transitioned to an advisory role in June.
“For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena,” the team said in a statement Wednesday. “He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.”
Tanter started with the team in 1982 when the Lakers played in the Forum. His signature calls — “toooo many steps,” “Kobeee Bryant,” “Lllaker Girlsss” — were not boastful or over the top. For a franchise that came to embody old Hollywood glamour, Tanter’s voice became the ideal soundtrack.
“A true original that added his unique style to Showtime,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss wrote on X on Tuesday. “Rest in peace, LT.”
He backed fans up as they celebrated 10 championships during his tenure. He offered comfort in other, painful times.
Days after Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in 2020, Tanter guided a sold out crowd through a tearful pregame routine, introducing all five of the Lakers’ starters with a familiar call: “Number 24, 6-6, 20th year out of Lower Merion High School, Kobeeee Bryant.”
The 6-foot-7 Tanter towered over many, but greeted everyone with a kind smile and warm conversation. Just as the players he serenaded with his calls became institutions in the sport, so did he. Tanter was inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcaster Hall of Fame.
“I hope the team wears an LT patch this season,” former Lakers center and current team broadcaster Mychal Thompson wrote on X on Tuesday.
“He was a great vibe dude, always engaged me in conversation about jazz, he was a music lover and the best announcer in the NBA,” Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist and longtime Lakers fan Flea wrote on X. “I realized when attending many other NBA arenas that no one else came close.”
While many in his profession brought energy with loud, hyped up calls, Tanter held firm with his cool style. He “never tried to be a cheerleader,” Tanter told The Times’ Bill Plaschke in June.
“It’s been a great run,” Tanter said after announcing his retirement. “I’ve been blessed.”
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Barron/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Shreyas Laddha of the Salt Lake Tribune was kind enough to join me on the Hoops Nerd Podcast. We discussed all of the following:
Laddha’s journey to the NBA and how he got to Utah
Darryn Peterson, his injury history, and whether he’s healthy for the upcoming season. We also discussed intel from Jazz workouts
How Ace Bailey is looking in workouts and what the Jazz are impressed with
Keyonte George and his new contract and what his role might be
His prediction, as of today before camp, of what the Jazz starting lineup might look like
The food in SLC and what he’s looking for, and what he thinks of fry sauce (very important reporting on this one).
Make sure to give Shreyas a follow on Twitter: @shre98
And make sure to read him at the Salt Lake Tribune! https://www.sltrib.com/staff/sladdha@sltrib.com/
Also, make sure to leave your best food recommendations in Salt Lake and Utah in the comments.
And as always, make sure to download the SB Nation app to make sure you don’t miss out on any Utah Jazz coverage.
Lawrence Tanter, who served as the public address announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers for 43 years, has died, the team announced on social media on Sept. 23. He was 76 years old.
"Lawrence Tanter, forever in our hearts as a member of the Lakers family," the Lakers posted on X, formerly Twitter, with a purple heart emoji.
The post was accompanied by the following statement announcing Tanter's death: "We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter. For 43 years, LT's voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family."
Tanter, who began working for the Lakers in 1982, announced his retirement at the end of the 2025-26 season but planned to stick around the team as "Special Advisor for Game Presentation," the Lakers announced in June. Per ESPN, Tanter suffered a stroke in March 2026 and missed the Lakers' final six home games of the regular season and the playoffs.
NBA world reacts to Lawrence Tanter's death
Tanter was a beloved individual throughout the NBA landscape. Social media tributes poured in immediately once the news was made public.
NBA insider Marc Stein said Lakers games will never be the same in an X post.
Lakers home games will never sound the same again without Lawrence Tanter.An absolute honor to know and work alongside LT … but most of all just to listen to that signature voice.
Long Island Nets, DJ Rodman, Isaiah Wong, Ben Humrichous, Getty Images, NetsDaily Graphic
The Brooklyn Nets have filled out their NBA roster and are putting the final touches on training camp which begins next Tuesday, adding two new players Wednesday, both of whom could ultimately help their G League affiliate this season.
On Wednesday, Brooklyn signed 6’9” forwards Dain Dainja and Ben Humrichous, both of whom were with the squad in Summer League and according to team source, will be in Brooklyn’s training camp next week. NBA teams can carry up to 21 players on their camp roster.
Humrichous and Dainja are the latest signings announced by the team whose 18-man roster — 15 standard deals and three two-ways — appears set, making if difficult for Humrichous or Dainja to find a way into a Brooklyn uniform by October 19. That’s the final cutdown date for NBA rosters.
In the last week, Brooklyn also added 6’10” Nick Pringle who played at Alabama and Arkansas as well as signing and waiving 6’6” small forward D.J. Rodman, son of five-time NBA Champion Dennis Rodman, and 6’7” shooting guard Aaron Scott, who played with the Nets in Summer League. The first week of the month, Long Island traded for Dwight Murray, a 6’0” point guard who played for Rider University in New Jersey. All of them will most likely spend the year with Long Island.
G League teams can carry up to 10 players on standard contracts and three two-ways, which the organization has already locked up with second round pick Tyler Bilodeau, Chaney Johnson and Grant Nelson who played with Pringle at Alabama.
Long Island has nine of their 10 roster spots locked up, leaving just one to fill. Their nine rostered players include Humrichous, Dainja, Pringle, Rodman, Scott, Murray, international draft pick Tidjiane Dioumassi, and two 6’3” guards acquired in trades earlier in the month: Isaiah Wong, who played in Spain and Joey Calcaterra, a UConn product who was part of the Huskies 2023 NCAA championship squad.
Just like the NBA, though, the G League has a training camp. Unlike the NBA, however, there isn’t a precise hard cap on how many players can be carried into camp. That suggests there will likely be more than one addition for LI before training camp kicks off. Deon Brown, a 6’5” combo guard who played for the Nets in summer league and registered a triple double in one game, has been rumored as a potential camp invite as well although there’s been no confirmation
Overall, Nets’ Summer League alumni currently include Dainja, Humrichous, Murray, and Scott.
More on the summer league faces
Out of those four players, Dainja, 24, is the most intriguing. At 6’9” and 255 pounds with a ridiculous 7’7” wingspan, he is a very physical player who spent the 2025 season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s G League affiliate. With the Skyforce, he averaged 13.1 points on 62.3% shooting, 5.9 rebounds, and one block across 36 appearances.
Throughout those 36 games, he logged an impressive eight double-doubles. In Summer League with Brooklyn, he consistently remained in the rotation despite being an invite player. Across five games in the Las Vegas portion, he averaged 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Humrichous, the other 6’9” forward, is much more of a shooter. In Summer League action, he averaged 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while hitting 35.3% of his threes in Vegas. His most memorable outing came in the California Classic, where he logged 15 points, eight rebounds, and five three-pointers in an 89-69 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Scott, 23, stands at 6’7” and weighs 190 pounds. He went undrafted in 2025 after playing at North Texas and St. John’s. While he struggled to find the floor much in Summer League, he averaged 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 40 games with the Maine Celtics last season.
Lastly, there is Murray. Standing at 6’0” and 181 pounds, Murray has appeared in 90 career G League games (51 starts) across two seasons with the Skyhawks. In the G League, the 26-year-old has averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game. Similar to Scott, he didn’t receive many Summer League minutes.
Other new faces
While a large portion of the roster is occupied by Summer League players this year, there are also a handful of new faces.
Out of the new guys, Wong has the strongest resume. The 25-year-old averaged 14.6 points in Spain’s top league last season. In his most recent G League stint, he averaged 20.6 points across 14 games. Wong also had NBA experience, having spent 21 career games in the pros with the Indiana Pacers (1 in 2023-24) and the Charlotte Hornets (20 in 2024-25).
Brooklyn also signed and waived Rodman, indicating that he is most likely Long Island-bound. The 6’6” wing averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists with the Greensboro Swarm last season, the Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate.
Calcaterra was acquired in a three-team trade that sent Yuri Collins’ rights to the Memphis Hustle. Calcaterra has been an end of the bench player across several G League teams, averaging 2.8 points in 41 career games in the G.
Then there’s Dioumassi, the 6’4” French guard Long Island selected in July’s G League International Draft. At Western Carolina last season, the Paris native averaged 8.9 points, led the team with 78 assists and made 36.4% of his threes.
Roster math
In addition, NBA teams like Brooklyn can assign up to three players on NBA standard players. Of the 15 players on the Nets roster, the team’s eight picks in last two drafts would be eligible for tours in Long Island.
The sign-and-waive moves, often completed with hours, may seem odd, but they are part of how G League rosters are built. An Exhibit 10 deal can give a waived player a bonus of up to $91,000 if they join a G League affiliate and spend the 60 days there. Sources told ND that Brooklyn is one of a few teams that fully guarantees their Exhibit 10 deals. That’s on top of the $49,000 standard G League deal.
There is also a trade-off between two-way contracts and Exhibit 10’s. A two-way contract pays substantially more ($678,882 for the 2026-27 NBA season), but a player who clears waivers and joins Long Island on a G League deal remains an NBA free agent, unlike a two-way which ties them to the NBA club. Agents have told ND that, for some players, the chance to develop while staying available to all 30 teams can make the Exhibit 10 route more enticing compared to being trapped on a two-way deal.
Overall, LI has a lot of turnover this season. None of their standard players from last year are returning, and the only familiar faces are Nelson, who was an Exhibit 10 signing and is now on a two-way deal, and Johnson, who remains on a two-way deal. Both played in Brooklyn at the end of last season. Johnson played in the Summer League for Brooklyn. Nelson was also on the Summer League roster, but didn’t play following an off-season procedure to treat his patella tendinitis, which is also known as “jumper’s knee.”
Long Island will begin its season on November 6, with its home opener on Friday, November 13, at the Nassau Coliseum.
