Magic C Howard, Lakers G Bryant lead All-Star voting

Jan 1, 2009 - 6:39 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant continue to lead the All-Star voting for their respective conferences, the league announced Thursday.

The defending slam dunk champion, Howard leads the entire league with 1,709,088 votes and is running away with the starting center spot on the Eastern Conference squad. Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers is a distant second with 239,089 votes.

Cleveland's LeBron James (1,521,272) and Boston's Kevin Garnett (1,101,541) are the top forwards for the East. Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (1,473,225) is tops among Eastern Conference guards.

Bryant (1,534,020), the reigning league MVP, is the leader of the pack out West. Houston's Tracy McGrady (961,852) will likely join him in the backcourt. He holds a sizable lead over New Orleans guard Chris Paul (867,889).

Tim Duncan (1,132,095) of the San Antonio Spurs is the leading vote-getter among Western Conference forwards. Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire holds a slim lead over Denver's Carmelo Anthony (725,411) for the seconds starting spot.

Yao Ming (1,396,126) of the Houston Rockets leads all West centers in votes.

The All-Star game will be played on February 15 in Phoenix.