LAKER UPDATE : This Spartan’s Nickname Far From Magical

At Michigan State, they called him only by his name.

At the Forum, his new home as a member of the Lakers, they announce him--no, honor him--by adding in the nickname: Anthony (Pig) Miller. Rarely has anyone been more proud to be mentioned as a barnyard animal.

“I like it a lot,” the 6-foot-9, 225-pound rookie power forward said. “At State, they just called me Anthony. But I like this better.”

Which now means everything is working out well. Miller, who was first called Pig as a baby because of his hearty appetite, could have been with the Golden State Warriors, the team that drafted him in the second round in June.

Or he could have played in Europe, where he probably would have gotten more playing time.

But his decision to stay in Los Angeles is working out nicely for him and the Lakers.

Miller went into Tuesday night’s exhibition game against Seattle in Vancouver averaging 5.3 rebounds in only 16 minutes and was leading the team in rebounds per minute.

And the Lakers might have found someone to improve their results on the boards after finishing 23rd by percentage in 1993-94, including 27th and last on the defensive end.

Those numbers mean Miller, who was traded to the Lakers shortly after the draft for a second-round pick in 1995, has a good chance to move his trough into the Forum for good.

The only person not pleased by Miller’s performance is Antonio Harvey, the second-year player who is battling the rookie for a reserve job at power forward.

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The Lakers improved their exhibition record to 5-2 with a 114-113 victory over the SuperSonics.

George Lynch’s 15-foot jumper with 22 seconds left was the winner before 13,895 at the future home of an NBA franchise in Vancouver.

Seattle (5-1) had a three-point attempt by Nate McMillan fall short with three seconds left.

Lynch led all scorers with 26 points, including 17 in the first half. Vlade Divac added 23 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Vincent Askew led Seattle with 21 points and Gary Payton added 19.

James Worthy was not with the Lakers and will miss Thursday’s exhibition finale against the Jazz at Ogden, Utah, after the death of his mother. The funeral of Gladys Worthy is today in Gastonia, N.C.