GLOBAL WARMING WORLD EMBRACING LAKERS, BASKETBALL.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

Ten years ago, Los Angeles Lakers lovers around the world waited weeks to share an NBA playoff disgrace as game tapes traveled oceans before airing on local television.

No more.

This week's first-round loss to Philadelphia was an instant shot seen round the world - a TV feat that has helped turn basketball from Globetrotter novelty to world super-sport.

And at the center of the hoop is Los Angeles, whose Lakers are a world favorite and whose powerful center, Shaquille O'Neal, has become a household star from Germany to China.

``The Lakers, the Lakers is too great: It's a kind of miracle,'' said Deilin Xie of the Xinhua News Agency, the premier news outlet for the People's Republic of China's 1 billion residents, prior to the start of the first game of the finals on Wednesday.

``The Lakers is too strong, everybody wish it will sweep,'' added Yan Xiaoxian of the Xin Min Evening News of China. ``Me, too.''

With such foreign reverence for the NBA growing faster than upcoming centers, international news agencies have assigned Xie, Xiaoxian and 221 reporters from 32 countries to cover the games, an NBA record, according to National Basketball Association officials.

Forty foreign broadcasters now form a United Nations of camera crews in the top tiers of the Staples Center. Live feeds of playoff games are transmitted in 41 languages - from Bahasa Indonesian to Icelandic to Turkish - by 91 telecasters to TV sets in 205 countries.

In the last decade the number of nations glued to the fast-paced sport has doubled, said Scott Levy, NBA senior director of international TV and media.

``In the last 10 years, we've seen tremendous growth,'' Levy said, as sports commentators covered the court this week for a Babylon of ``stand-up'' appearances prior to the game. ``All you need is a hoop, some level ground and a ball.''

Live news feeds, the Internet and NBA marketing have all played their part. And it doesn't hurt that NBA athletes, once grown from inner-city courts, are now drafted from across the globe. Or that stars speak the mother tongue of many countries.

O'Neal, an Army brat once stationed in Germany, speaks German. Kobe Bryant speaks Italian. ``Mad Dog'' Madson speaks Spanish. The Lakers new Ukranian rookie, Stanislev Medvedenko, can now whoop a slam dunk in his native Russian.

``Soccer is the main thing in Europe, but basketball is growing in popularity,'' said Ronald Van Dam of Canal-Plus Dutch television.

``It's kind of a macho sport, played by machos - they're all talking loud on the court after a dunk. Power. Dominance. The arrogance they show. People go crazy over it - we're no different than you.''

In Italy, where a scattered crowd of 3,500 attend local basketball games, Kobe is king, journalists say. In Germany, where the Lakers and the Boston Celtics were for years the only two teams known to fans, Shaq reigns supreme.

Basketball is the rage among Chinese young people. And in Japan, where baseball remains the national pastime, the NBA is close behind, said Hideaki Yamamoto, of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. ``The Lakers are a very popular team, the most popular in the NBA.''

While catching the Lakers, foreign audiences no doubt cued in on Los Angeles. Where finals fashion meant low-rise jeans. Revealing tops. And the ubiquitous purple-and-gold No. 34 jersey of O'Neal.

And where classic American entrepreneurs outside the game pushed Lakers furniture, Lakers cell phones and where a band of strippers passing out coupons for post-game shows at local gentlemen's clubs.

Many foreign correspondents, however, seemed less impressed by the Los Angeles L.A.-ness than its basketball powerhouse.

``The city is too large,'' said Xiaoxian, who echoed the sentiments of other reporters. ``It's not as beautiful as I had imagined; instead, the atmosphere is not so good.''

Markus Krawinkel, a hulking commentator from Premiere World TV in Munich, Germany, had sunnier things to say about L.A. Where the beaches are fine. And where, unlike Germany, the very rich contrast with the very poor.

``I like L.A.,'' he said. ``There's a special vibe here. I love it because its by the ocean; the women are beautiful. What we all think you have is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.''

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Photo:

French broadcasters George Eddy, left, and Bruno Poulain provide commentary before the start of Wednesday's game.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer