"On the night before the night before Christmas, a festival of newness came to Phoenix.

A King was in the house. There was the ceremonial unwrapping of our new Polish Hammer. There was an overhyped team in one corner, a revamped team in the other and two players wearing Suns gear for the very first time.

And with all this novelty attached to a showdown against the star-studded Heat, the biggest spectacle was the oldest man in uniform, the one who migrated from Orlando a long time ago.

Grant Hill, 38, is making a push for the All-Star Game.

"He's a youth machine," Heat star Dwyane Wade said.

Granted, it's a long shot. Hill was only averaging 15 points and 5.0 rebounds per game entering Thursday's game, and in a conference stacked with great players, it might be hard convincing Western Conference coaches toa second player from a mediocre team.

But if ever there was a time for a sentimental choice, this is the year.

"I'm flattered," Hill said. "I feel like I'm playing as good as I've played since I've been here. And after losing Amar'e (Stoudemire), I feel like I've had to step up and do a little bit more this season."

In some ways, Hill's 16th NBA season has been an extension of a career renaissance in the desert. Since arriving in Phoenix in 2007, he has played 260 of a possible 273 regular-season games. Once brittle and injury prone, Hill became just the 11th man in NBA history to play in over 80 games in multiple seasons after the age of 36.

But here's what's different about this season: Like Steve Nash and Jared Dudley, Hill has taken his fitness regimen to another level. He stopped eating dessert. He underwent extensive blood work to find out what foods agree with his system. For instance, he discovered his body did not react well to Chilean sea bass."