NEW YORK, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant have the championship rings, but Vince Carter is still the favorite of NBA fans.
After leading all players in balloting the last two seasons, the high-flying forward of the Toronto Raptors broke out of the gate quickly with 471,255 votes after the first returns for the 2002 All-Star Game were announced on Tuesday.
Guard Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers -- the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player -- is second among Eastern Conference players in the balloting with 284,368 votes.
Michael Jordan, the most popular player in the history of the NBA, returned to play with the Washington Wizards after a three-year retirement and is third among Eastern Conference players with 271,598 votes.
O'Neal and Bryant have led the Los Angeles Lakers to back-to-back NBA titles and are 1-2 in Western Conference voting. O'Neal tops the centers with 408,406 votes and Bryant received 363,184 votes.
Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves leads all Western Conference forwards with 294,632 votes. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs is second among West forwards with 203,929 votes and Steve Francis (147,186) is second among West guards with less than half the total of Bryant.
Dikembe Mutombo of the 76ers leads Eastern Conference centers with 193,537 votes.
Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons is second among East forwards (175,356) despite missing 12 games due to ankle problems. Antoine Walker of the Boston Celtics is third among East forwards (123,691).
Starters for the 51st All-Star Game, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 10 in Philadelphia, is determined in fan balloting that will continue through Jan. 13.
NBA coaches will vote for the remaining members of the All-Star teams in their respective conferences.
The coaches for the game will come from the teams that have the best winning percentage in their respective conferences.
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