Lantz Joins Hearn in Laker Booth

Former Laker Stu Lantz will be Chick Hearn’s color commentator on Laker broadcasts next season, the team said Wednesday.

Lantz, 41, replaced Keith Erickson, who left to become president of Sports Fantasies, Inc. Lantz played in the National Basketball Assn. for nine years, 1968 through ’76. He began his career with the San Diego Rockets and also played for the Detroit Pistons and the New Orleans Jazz before joining the Lakers. He played 1 1/2 seasons for the Lakers before retiring due to a back injury.

Lantz has been a commentator for the San Diego Clippers, San Diego State University and Nevada Las Vegas, as well as CBS-TV. He is presently vice president of Micro Electronic Components, Inc.