Kobe, LeBron lead NBA All-Star vote

NEW YORK, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are still in the leading positions of the NBA All-Star votes after four-round balloting.

Bryant of the LA Lakers and James of the Cleveland Cavaliers were the leading vote-getters in their respective Western and Eastern Conference according to the 2010 NBA All-Star Game balloting released by the league on Thursday.

Bryant, currently the league's top scorer, is the overall leader with 1,793,782 votes. James, the reigning league Most Valuable Player, is second with 1,769,287 tallies.

A three-time All-Star MVP, who shared the honours with Shaquille O'Neal in last year's mid-season showpiece, Bryant is joined at guard by Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady (746,625 votes).

McGrady leads Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns despite playing only 47 minutes this season and has taken a leave of absence from the team.

Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony (1,568,259) and German Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks (826,130) hold down the forward spots. The Phoenix Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire (1,304,470) takes the West's center.

In the East, Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett (1,467,365 votes), MVP of the 2003 All-Star Game, stands up as the forward. Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (1,719,359) and Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson (930,713) are the guards.

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic (1,681,897) plays at center.

The announcement for the All-Star starters will be released on Jan. 21.

Following the completion of the voting and the starting line-up announcement, the head coaches will vote in the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, which will be announced on January 28.

The 59th NBA All-Star Game will be played on February 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas before a crowd of more than 80,000.