New York, NY -- Yao leads all vote-getters for 2006 All-Star Game

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming received the most total votes after the first returns in the 2006 NBA All-Star program.

The program enables NBA fans from around the globe to vote in the starters for the 55th NBA All-Star Game, which will take place at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX on Sunday, February 19, 2006.

Yao has collected 729,178 votes, which leads all Western Conference centers by a substantial margin. Denver's Marcus Camby is currently second among big men, as he has garnered 250,312 votes.

In addition to Yao, teammate Tracy McGrady leads all West forwards by receiving 600,507 votes. Kevin Garnett of the Timberwolves is second with 469,497 tallies while San Antonio's Tim Duncan is third in voting following the first returns.

Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant and Phoenix's Steve Nash, the reigning league MVP, have distanced themselves as the top two vote-getters from the guard position in the West. Bryant has amassed 664,744 votes, compared to 562,846 for Nash. San Antonio's Manu Ginobili is in third place, but nearly 350,000 votes behind Nash.

In the Eastern Conference, Cleveland forward LeBron James has tallied the most votes (665,849), while Heat center Shaquille O'Neal is second in voting despite missing most of the season with a sprained ankle. O'Neal has received 646,085 votes, just over 300,000 more than the next center, Detroit's Ben Wallace.

Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal is second for forwards and has 387,893 votes, while Detroit's Rasheed Wallace has accumulated 186,911 tallies.

Allen Iverson leads all East guards, as the Sixer has racked up 638,999 votes. Miami's Dwyane Wade is in second with 479,774 tallies while Nets shooting guard Vince Carter sits in third after the first returns.