WASHINGTON – It's pretty obvious at first look that Vlade Divac isn't Shaquille O'Neal.

Nor is Antonio Davis, all 6-foot-9 of him and journeyman up until this season, anything like what normally starts at center in any NBA game, let alone the All-Star Game.

	He's now 33 years old, but Vlade Divac is finally an All-Star.

In fact, there are quite a few All-Stars here for the annual classic who don't look like the same old guys who tend to show up for this game every season.

But maybe that's what makes this game so appealing. Instead of listening to the annual Karl Malone complaints about how he'd rather be on vacation this weekend, or reading how stars like Kobe Bryant wait to the last minute to consent to coming because they need a rest, isn't it a nice change to have NBA players legitimately honored to be on center stage -- and saying as much?

"When I got the call I thought they were playing with me," said the Raptors' Davis, who replaced Philadelphia's injured Theo Ratliff on Friday and is scheduled to start for the East in the middle. "I thought it was great to even be considered. Sure, there are other guys who aren't here, but I know I will play my heart out and enjoy the game."

Davis, who had his first All-Star berth announced before the Raptors' game Thursday and said he was moved by the experience, is in his eighth year in the league. He doesn't care that people say he shouldn't be here. He's here anyway.

And Divac, who replaced O'Neal, has no regrets nor feels bad for others. "I know if Shaq isn't hurt I'm not here," Divac said. "I'm still very excited. It was my dream growing up to be an All-Star. It's really exciting to me."

	“	I think it's a fantastic privilege, and I enjoy it every year. A lot of it for the first-time guys is that they have to break the mold. It's great to see new guys getting a chance. Vlade is a big part of his team's success, no matter the numbers. And I no longer get 25 and 12 but with my team's success, I play a big role. ”
		— David Robinson

Listening to the first-time All-Stars just hours before tipoff – and there are seven first-timers overall – you have to feel a little bit for them. But unlike youngsters Stephon Marbury, Tracy McGrady, Antonio McDyess and the injured Ratliff, it's different for the old guys.

People ask them if they deserve to be All-Stars, like they should be embarrassed about it. But Davis, Divac and the Heat's Anthony Mason comprise the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 oldest first-time All-Stars in NBA history. Only Nat Clifton, a Knick in 1957 who was 34 years, 3 months, was older. Mason missed the dubious record by less than a month.

"This just proves to kids that they can never give up," said Mason, who endured stints in Turkey, Venezuela, the CBA and USBL before sticking in the NBA for good a decade ago. "I kept my nose clean and stuck to it because I always thought I could play basketball. I think this makes it all worthwhile."

Some point to the NBA as watered down, which is a valid argument when one considers how many players with marginal stats are in the game. The starting centers aren't 20-10 guys like Shaq or Alonzo Mourning, they are 12 and 8 guys like Divac and Davis, an 8-year veteran with similar numbers to David Robinson and Dikembe Mutombo, who is averaging all of 8 points. But it's more circumstance that has led to some of these new All-Stars, circumstances that nobody need apologize for.

"It's a shame to say you have to coax guys to come here," said Robinson. "I think it's a fantastic privilege, and I enjoy it every year. A lot of it for the first-time guys is that they have to break the mold. It's great to see new guys getting a chance. Vlade is a big part of his team's success, no matter the numbers. And I no longer get 25 and 12 but with my team's success, I play a big role."

For Mason, his first appearance in a game like this has been different than the other guys. Divac and Davis wouldn't be here if not for injuries. Mason, known throughout the league as a bit of a thug who gets himself into trouble off the court, is having arguably his greatest season at 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds. He is a big reason the Mourning-less Heat are in the thick of the East playoff race.

"I've always been a defensive-first person, and offense comes when it comes," admits Mason when asked why it took 12 years in the NBA to get here. "I was supposed to be a sleeper, then a guy who would never make it. But I am a complete player, and I got in the best shape of my life this year knowing I was going back to Camp Riley. You work hard at something and you finally get recognition and you feel great about it."

The other four first-timers weren't much of a surprise. Marbury is the best pure point guard in the Eastern Conference, a natural scorer who still gets his assists, though his Nets are having a terrible season. McGrady is averaging more than 26 points a game. McDyess leads the NBA in double-doubles and has the Nuggets in the West playoff race. And Philadelphia defensive anchor Ratliff leads the league in blocks, but a broken wrist discovered last week will keep him out of action for at least a month.

McDyess publicly lobbied to get on the All-Star team, and his spot was far from guaranteed considering the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki is a West forward who didn't get to go. This despite numbers that would have McDyess starting for the East easily. McDyess is still young enough to return to All-Star heights, but he was no less emotional about being honored.

"I really feel like I fit in now," said McDyess, averaging a robust 22 points and 12 rebounds in his sixth season. "It was frustrating because I felt like I belonged here in this situation. I've been looked over in my career. Hardly anybody knew my name. Guys like me and Dirk give our best. I really thought I'd be the odd man out."

Here at All-Star weekend, with a quarter of the players in Sunday's game being newcomers, there are no odd men out.