LAS VEGAS - One after another, Hall of Famers endorsed Adrian Dantley.

"That's good," Dantley said. "Maybe that will help."

The Nuggets assistant and former Utah standout was named Friday during All-Star Weekend as a Hall of Fame finalist for the fifth time.

"It's one of the most egregious errors in the history of basketball that he's been overlooked," Bill Walton said of Dantley, a two-time scoring champion.

Other Hall of Famers to endorse Dantley included ex-Nuggets standout David Thompson and Colorado Springs resident Rick Barry. Thompson said Dantley "should definitely be in there when you look at his numbers."

There were 15 finalists named. The class will be named April 2 at the NCAA men's basketball Final Four in Atlanta.

"I just take the high road," Dantley said. "I hope one day I'll get in. Hopefully, this will be the year."

Other finalists are former players Chris Mullin and Richie Guerin, coaches Phil Jackson, Eddie Sutton, Roy Williams, Bobby Hurley, Van Chancellor, Harley Redin, Pedro Ferrandiz and Mirko Novosel, contributors Bill Davidson and Dick Vitale, referee Mendy Rudolph and the 1966 Texas Western team.

IVERSON WARY: Nuggets guard Allen Iverson, who will miss the All-Star Game on Sunday because of a sprained right ankle, hopes to return Tuesday at San Antonio. But he said he's worried the injury could linger the rest of the season.

"It's definitely a concern," he said. "Obviously, that's going to be in the back of my mind, being I tried to come back too soon (before). I just hope I don't (hurt) it again."

Iverson missed four games and said he returned too soon. He was reinjured and missed the final four games before the All-Star break.

Frustrated at being hurt, Iverson joked he's "broke my TV three or four times." He said family members will have fun this weekend, but he wishes he could play Sunday.

"Just watching the game is going to be tough," he said. "I felt like I owed that to the fans to be out there."

During a media session Friday, Iverson was grilled about his December trade from Philadelphia. He reiterated his situation has become "so much better."

SECOND TIME AROUND: Detroit guard Chauncey Billups, a Denver native, will make his second straight All-Star appearance. He believes that puts him in a different category.

"It's a little more prestigious when you're a multiple-time All- Star as opposed to just one," Billups said. "Some guys just have a special year and they get in and maybe don't get back in. I think (being in two) does maybe add some flavor."

CALLING MELO: USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo wasted little time seeking out Carmelo Anthony after the Nuggets forward was suspended 15 games for his role in a Dec. 16 brawl.

"I called Carmelo and he eventually got back to me," Colangelo said of Anthony, who starred last summer for Team USA. "All I was doing was supporting him and telling him, 'You made a mistake, deal with it and take care of it, and it doesn't affect anything as far as us. I'm there behind you.' "

Anthony said it was "great" hearing from him. He said Colangelo said, "Keep your head up."

Colangelo said he plans to invite University of Texas player Kevin Durant to Team USA training camp this summer.

ETC.: Scottie Pippen wants to play again and said the Nuggets are on his wish list. "Denver's definitely a contender," he said. "(Coach George Karl) has said he needs somebody he can rely on to handle the ball. That definitely could be an opportunity." . . . Iverson's only previous Las Vegas visit was in 1997. "I saw Mike Tyson bite somebody's ear off (Evander Holyfield)," he said. . . . MVP David Lee of New York shot 14-for-14 for 30 points as the Sophomores won the Rookie Challenge, 155-114. . . . Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki will start Sunday for injured Houston center Yao Ming.