Las Vegas – Among the many congratulatory wishes celebrating Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony’s NBA All-Star Game arrival came with a hug and words of wisdom from Chauncey Billups on Saturday.
After overcoming numerous obstacles and snubs, Anthony finally will be part of the All-Star Game tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center in his fourth season. The NBA’s top scorer was added as a replacement player after not being voted in as a reserve by Western Conference coaches.
“I told him that I’m proud of him,” said Billups, who sat next to Anthony during Saturday night’s all-star festivities. “He’s been through a lot already in his young career. I thought he should have come in on the all-star vote the first time around. He didn’t. He kept playing. He didn’t hang his head. I’m proud of him. I believe in him. He’s a great player. I’m just happy to see him here.”
Anthony’s 15-game suspension for punching New York Knicks guard Mardy Collins on Dec. 16 has been viewed as the reason he wasn’t voted in as a reserve by West coaches. But this weekend, fans and all-star players have told Anthony time and again his honor was long overdue.
“Everybody in the All-Star Game is showing me a lot of love for being here,” Anthony said. “Everybody kept telling me it’s about time that I’m here, it’s good seeing me and that I belong. When I’m around town people come up to me and tell me, ‘Melo, it’s good to see you in the All-Star Game.”‘
Said the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, a West all-star: “He’s definitely due. He’s an exceptional basketball player. What he’s been through this year, obviously it’s an unfortunate situation. You’ve got to move beyond that and focus on the game. And that’s the thing that matters the most.”
Anthony and Allen Iverson became the first pair of Nuggets named all-stars since 1988, when Fat Lever and Alex English were chosen. Iverson will not play tonight because of a sprained ankle.
Iverson has missed eight of Denver’s past nine games because of the injury. The veteran guard hopes to play Tuesday at San Antonio, when the Nuggets resume their season.
“I think I’ll be back Tuesday,” Iverson said Friday. “I’m going to try to practice Monday (in San Antonio) and see how it goes. If it doesn’t bother me as much, I’ll try to go Tuesday.”
Billups will play in his second All-Star Game as an Eastern Conference reserve. The former George Washington High School and University of Colorado star said he has “20-something friends and family members here” but wasn’t sure if he can get them all in to see the game.
“To have a chance to come out here and be honored this weekend is a great feat,” Billups said.
Footnotes
Former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen said Saturday the Nuggets are a “possibility” in his potential comeback plans. The seven-time all-star, however, said he has not spoken to anyone from the Nuggets. Denver executives could not be reached for comment. “I’m not going to close the door on any contender and I do think the Nuggets are a contender,” Pippen said. … Who is the most impressive celebrity Anthony has seen this weekend? “I saw Mike Jackson. Mike Jackson was in the hotel,” he said. … The Nuggets will not have training camp in Europe next season or play a preseason game outside of the United States or Canada. … When asked his criteria for determining the length of a suspension for fighting, NBA commissioner David Stern said: “It’s hard. We are well aware of what previous suspensions were. We look at each transgression in that context, and we tried to see what we think is appropriate in the circumstances. It’s not a fixed formula. But we think the message has been getting out loud and clear.”
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
