Yao Ming to start in All-Star game; Garnett edges Nowitzki

NEW YORK -- When the ball goes up for the opening tip at the NBA All-Star game Feb. 9 in Atlanta, Yao Ming will be the center trying to win the jump ball for the West.

The 7-foot-6 rookie from China will be starting for the Western Conference after defeating Shaquille O'Neal by almost a quarter-million votes in final fan balloting totals released Thursday.

In the closest race, Kevin Garnett of Minnesota edged Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas for the last starting spot among Western Conference forwards. Garnett received 1,086,780 votes -- 7,355 more than Nowitzki.

In the Eastern Conference, Allen Iverson of Philadelphia drew almost 73,000 more votes than Michael Jordan to earn the second guard spot.

Yao will become the first rookie to start in the All-Star game since Grant Hill in 1995. He is the 16th rookie in NBA history to be named an All-Star starter and the fourth center, joining O'Neal in 1993, Wilt Chamberlain in 1960 and Ray Felix in 1954.

"I am honored. I hope to play well in the game. I think I might have to take a sleeping pill before I can go to sleep tonight," Yao said. "To have this rare opportunity is a rare opportunity."

The rest of the West's starters are Garnett, Tim Duncan of San Antonio, Steve Francis of Houston and Kobe Bryant of the Lakers.

Bryant was the leading overall vote-getter with 1,474,386 out of more than 4.5 million ballots cast.

The Eastern Conference starters are Iverson and Orlando's Tracy McGrady, Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal and Toronto's Vince Carter at forward, and Ben Wallace of Detroit at center. McGrady was the leading vote-getter in the East with 1,316,297.

The fans' selection of Carter, who has missed 33 games because of knee injuries, was the most debatable.

"I'm thrilled. I just have to say thank you to the fans," Carter said. "It's been a rough season. A lot of people have been taking shots at me once again. It makes me feel better to know the fans believe in me. They know what I'm capable of regardless of what the other side thinks.

"I need some games under my belt or I'll look very bad out there," said Carter, whose team has five games between Sunday and the All-Star game.

The 26-year-old Garnett will be making his sixth All-Star appearance, tops among the starters. Bryant and Duncan were chosen for the fifth time, Carter and Iverson for the fourth time; McGrady his third, and Francis and Jermaine O'Neal to their second.

Reserves will be announced Tuesday following balloting by the 29 NBA coaches, who must vote for seven players in order of preference but are not allowed to vote for players from their teams. The selections must include two guards, two forwards and a center. Two other players are chosen regardless of position.

Isiah Thomas of Indiana and Rick Adelman of Sacramento will coach the two All-Star teams.