Charlotte Hornets guard Baron Davis was prepared to take three days off, visiting his ailing grandmother in Los Angeles and watch the All-Star game on television.

Instead, and after consulting with his grandmother, Davis will play in the game for the first time Sunday after Toronto?s Vince Carter had to withdraw with an injury.

Davis learned of his invitation around midnight ? or about three hours after the Hornets lost 100-93 at home to Philadelphia on Thursday.

Davis had just ate a post-game meal at Jock?s & Jill?s restaurant across from the coliseum with his girlfriend, Elizabeth Edmond, and was confirming plans for the weekend with his grandmother, Lela Nicholson, who had been suffering from pneumonia.

But while he was talking to his grandmother, Hornets? equipment manager Dave Jovanovic beeped in on call waiting on his cellular phone. The message?

Call NBA senior vice president Stu Jackson for an invitation to the All-Star game.

"After I talked to him, I called my grandmother back and said, ?I?ll come home if you want me to,?" Davis said. "She said, ?Boy, you better go. Go play with Michael (Jordan) and all them other boys.?"

And like that, Davis? first appearance in the NBA?s marquee game became official.

For someone who effortlessly rattles off the names of childhood heroes like Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Jordan and Clyde Drexler, the invite meant a dream had come true.

"I?m already in awe," Davis responded to a question about the magnitude of being in the 51st All-Star game. "This is the event everybody plays for every year."

Davis, who participated in the Rookie Challenge and Slam Dunk championship last season, had set making the team as a player his preseason goal this season.

But when he wasn?t chosen Feb. 4 as All-Star reserves were announced, he declined a return invitation to the dunk contest ? the league declined readmission after his All-Star selection on Friday ? and planned to visit Nicholson.

And though he wasn?t initially invited, many thought him to be a candidate to replace Carter once news spread late Thursday he would miss this weekend?s festivities.

"There?s a lot of people, besides myself, that deserve this spot," said Davis, who leads the Hornets in scoring (19.1) and assists (8.7) per game.

"Replacing Vince will be some big shoes to fill. Vince Carter is a great player and one the fans obviously want to see. Hopefully, I can do something to impress people."

Davis hopes the selection is the first of many more to come.

"Definitely," he said. "It can?t be a one-time thing. It?s a stepping stone. When I was here for the dunk contest and the rookie challenge, I knew I wanted to be a part of this. But I also knew I was going to have to work hard.

"But you know the type of person I am and how hard I?m going to work. And I want to be able to do this every year."