=== Carter leads NBA All-Star balloting ===

New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers lead the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively, in votes received after the first returns in the 2004 NBA All- Star balloting program.

The program enables NBA fans from around the globe to vote in the starters for the 53rd NBA All-Star Game, which will take place at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 15, 2004.

The Eastern Conference accounts for the top two vote-getters, as Carter leads all players with 696,652 votes, while center Ben Wallace of Detroit is second with 597,959.

Following Carter at forward in the East is Jermaine O'Neal of the Indiana Pacers (542,673). Philadelphia's Allen Iverson (566,713) and Orlando's Tracy McGrady (417,529) lead the Eastern Conference guards.

Bryant is third in overall votes with 577,505, but leads all Western Conference players. Steve Francis (286,515) of the Rockets is second in the West at the guard position.

Minnesota's Kevin Garnett (539,280) and San Antonio's Tim Duncan (515,009) pace the forwards in the Western Conference, while the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal (534,380) is the leading vote-getter at the center position.

The 2004 NBA balloting program will continue through January 18, 2004 and the starters will be announced on January 29.