Interest in NBA Finals Fades in L.A.

Interest in the NBA Finals in Los Angeles faded as the series progressed. Game 6 on Sunday night got an 8.3 rating in L.A., down from an 8.9 for Game 5 and a 9.5 for Game 4.

The six games on ABC in L.A. averaged an 8.3 rating, which ranked L.A. 16th among the nation’s major markets.

Bloomberg News reported that ABC drew the lowest ratings nationally for the championship series since games were shown on tape delay more than two decades ago. Bloomberg also reported the viewership was down 38% from NBC’s national ratings for the four-game sweep by the Lakers over the Nets last year.

The overnight rating/share for Game 6 in the nation’s 55 largest markets was a 9.1/16. The six-game national overnight average was an 8.3/14.

National ratings, usually lower than overnight ratings, were not available Monday.

The last three NBA Finals, featuring the Lakers and televised by NBC, all averaged double-digit national ratings. The 2000 six-game Finals averaged a 12.1, the 2001 five-game Finals a 10.2, and last year’s four-game Finals an 11.6.

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NBC has hired Doug Collins to work as the lead commentator on men’s basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Collins was fired as the coach of the Washington Wizards on May 31.

Collins, who was NBC’s lead NBA commentator for three seasons before going to the Wizards, said on a conference call that he has been contacted by TNT, ESPN and ABC about his interest in returning to broadcasting full time. He said he has a number of options, including taking a year off, and has not made any decisions about his future.

ABC vice president Mark Mandel said no thought has been given to any changes with its NBA announcing team of Brad Nessler, Bill Walton and Tom Tolbert.

-- Larry Stewart

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Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony worked out for the Denver Nuggets on Monday, saying he was excited that he might be taken by the team with the third pick in the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-6 1/2 small forward demonstrated his shooting and ball-handling skills, and his agility and quickness in a 30-minute tryout for the Nuggets’ staff.

General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe and Coach Jeff Bzdelik were impressed with Anthony, who led the Orangemen to the national championship this year.

“We need him, we really do.” Bzdelik said. However, Vandeweghe would not say whether the Nuggets would definitely select Anthony.

High school sensation LeBron James will be drafted first by Cleveland, and Serbian center Darko Milicic is all but certain to be taken No. 2 by Detroit. Milicic canceled a scheduled workout with the Nuggets.

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NBA Commissioner David Stern cited a more stable Denver Nugget ownership and management situation in announcing that the team will play host to the 2005 All-Star game.... San Antonio will honor the NBA champion Spurs in a citywide celebration Wednesday. Festivities will start with a barge parade along the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio, eventually ending up at the SBC Center, the team’s home court.... Bruno Sundov, a 7-3 center-forward, exercised his contract option and will return to the Boston Celtics for a second season.