Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Eastern Conference, while Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets lead Western Conference players after the first returns of 2008 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant leads all Western Conference players.

The 57th NBA All-Star Game will be played in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 17. The game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.  

While Garnett leads all players with 735,664 votes, Cleveland?s James ? the 2007 top vote recipient and All-Star Game MVP ? follows Garnett at the forward spot in the East with 597,768 votes, the second-highest overall tally. The Orlando Magic?s Dwight Howard leads Eastern Conference centers (596,187), with the Miami Heat?s Dwyane Wade (470,921) and the New Jersey Nets? Jason Kidd (342,468) pacing the conference?s guards.

Bryant leads all Western Conference players with 569,302 votes, with the Houston Rockets? Tracy McGrady following him at guard (388,959). Denver?s Anthony (482,127) is second to Bryant among Western Conference players and is followed at forward by the Dallas Mavericks? Dirk Nowitzki (443,117). The Rockets? Yao Ming leads Western Conference centers (439,125).

Eastern Conference

Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Bos) 735,664; LeBron James (Clev) 597,768; Chris Bosh (185,294); Paul Pierce (Bos) 164,346; Yi Jianlian (Mil) 98,507; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 73,781; Rashard Lewis (Orl) 70,737; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 63,787; Caron Butler (Wash) 55,796; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 52,734.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 470,921; Jason Kidd (NJ) 343,468; Vince Carter (NJ) 277,705; Ray Allen (Bos) 270,114; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 256,994; Chauncey Billups (Det) 125,202; Michael Redd (Mil) 101,942; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 70,476; Richard Hamilton (Det) 66,617; T.J. Ford (Tor) 58,894.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 596,187; Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 282,727; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 69,331; Ben Wallace (Chi) 68,871; Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) 53,107; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 39,764; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 27,814; Emeka Okafor (Cha) 27,040; Eddy Curry (NY) 19,494; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 19,210.


Western Conference

Forwards: Carmelo Anthony (Den) 482,127; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 443,117; Tim Duncan (SA) 423,608; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 175,248; Shawn Marion (Pho) 154,641; Josh Howard (Dal) 146,909; Kevin Durant (Sea) 113,314; Luis Scola (Hou) 101,981; Shane Battier (Hou) 95,757; Grant Hill (Pho) 83,544.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 569,302; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 388,959; Steve Nash (Pho) 317,091; Allen Iverson (Den) 292,565; Manu Ginobili (SA) 141,891; Jason Terry (Dal) 121,397; Tony Parker (SA) 117,881; Chris Paul (NO) 110,688; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 103,307; Baron Davis (GS) 100,422.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 439,125; Amar? Stoudemire (Pho) 286,401; Erick Dampier (Dal) 101,878; Marcus Camby (Den) 94,473; Pau Gasol (Mem) 73,461; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 51,017; Chris Kaman (LAC) 40,256; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 35,601; Tyson Chandler (NO) 32,595; Andris Biedrins (GS) 29,026.