LAS VEGAS - Carmelo Anthony was getting tired of sitting in the stands at NBA All-Star games and hearing the public-address announcer call the names of other guys.

Anthony was at the 2004 game in Los Angeles and at the 2005 game in Denver. Each time, he made a vow.

"Just telling myself, not even saying, 'I want to be.' Just telling myself, 'I'm going to get there one day,' " Anthony said Friday. "I want them in the introductions to call my name. I say that every year. Now I'm here, and I can hear my name."

For the first time in his four-year career, Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center, the Nuggets forward will be introduced along with other members of the West All-Stars. He figures he will have "adrenaline pumping."

It hasn't been an easy road. Anthony watched as other heralded members of the 2003 draft class, Cleveland's LeBron James and Miami's

Dwyane Wade, made appearances in the 2005 and 2006 games.

Last year, Anthony, who had showed up at the previous two games because he played in the Rookie Challenge, didn't even bother going to the All-Star Game in Houston. He was in Las Vegas.

When Anthony was passed over as a starter and as a reserve for this game, he made preliminary plans to spend this weekend in his hometown of Baltimore. But commissioner David Stern named him an injury replacement Feb. 9.

"I told him I'm proud of him and very excited for him," said James, Anthony's good friend. "This is like icing on the cake for him. To not be a part of an All- Star team (three) years in a row, it wasn't very soothing for him. For him to finally get the nod this year, it was everything he wanted."

Anthony, the NBA's leading scorer, with a 30.7 average, is certain he was passed over as a reserve in voting by coaches because of the 15-game suspension he served for his role in a Dec. 16 brawl. He said he was "shocked" by the snub but soon got inspiration from other players.

Anthony talked to Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Kevin Garnett, and all told him to keep his head up. Anthony said people around the league he "never even talked to" before also wished him well.

"It was tough at first," he said. "But just walking around, everybody said, 'Don't worry about it. You should be there.' "

Anthony said every West coach he ran into said, "I voted for you. Somebody's lying." But Anthony insists he's not heading into the game Sunday feeling he has something to prove.

"Everybody knows that if it was not for the incident, the way I got (to the All-Star Game) would have been different," said Anthony, who said he will spend much of his time in Las Vegas with his mother, Mary, and other family members. "But I'm here now. I can't complain about it."

Not in the game is Anthony's teammate, Allen Iverson, who has a sprained right ankle that has sidelined him eight of the past nine games. Iverson, who hopes to return Tuesday at San Antonio, is in Las Vegas, and he has been dispensing advice to Anthony.

"Just play basketball," Iverson said. "That's something you love to do."

Chauncey Billups, a Denver native, suggests Anthony do more than just play ball in his first weekend as a member of an All-Star team.

"Soak it up. Just enjoy it," said the Detroit guard who will appear in his second All-Star Game. "Take a lot of pictures."

Unfortunately for Anthony, the most vivid image of him this season has been punching New York's Mardy Collins and backpedaling.

Anthony reiterated Friday the episode was "embarrassing to your family and friends" and to the Nuggets. But he sees some positive that has come out of it.

"I've become stronger," Anthony said. "I matured a lot. . . . It's kind of a blessing. I sat back and realized how much I really love the game of basketball. I really need the game of basketball. . . . I moved on. Especially making it to this All-Star Game was a big step for me."

It sure beats watching from the stands.