The Associated Press

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 sixth center, joining O'Neal in 1993, Elvin Hayes in 1969, Walt Bellamy in 1962, 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.

All-Star voting

All-Star Game

Sunday, Feb. 9

At Philips Arena, Atlanta

(s-starters)

Eastern Conference

Forwards

Vince Carter-s, Toronto, 1,300,895; Jermaine O'Neal-s, Indiana, 940,958; Grant Hill, Orlando 827,403; Antoine Walker, Boston, 528,613; Kenyon Martin, New Jersey 431,775; Latrell Sprewell, New York 286,883; Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Atlanta 269,601; Darius Miles, Cleveland 263,009; Richard Jefferson, New Jersey, 241,090; Jamal Mashburn, New Orleans 235,417.

Guards

Tracy McGrady-s, Orlando 1,316,297; Allen Iverson-s, Philadelphia, 1,155,897; Michael Jordan, Washington, 1,082,909; Jason Kidd, New Jersey, 962,325; Paul Pierce, Boston, 313,652; Ray Allen, Milwaukee, 266,735; Jerry Stackhouse, Washington, 204,299; Baron Davis, New Orleans 189,818; Reggie Miller, Indiana, 187,075; Ricky Davis, Cleveland 166,745.

Centers

Ben Wallace, Detroit-s, 1,123,090; Dikembe Mutombo, New Jersey, 610,232; Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland, 297,895; Antonio Davis, Toronto, 238,789; Brad Miller, Indiana, 238,755; Brian Grant, Miami, 201,568; Tony Battie, Boston, 135,458; Theo Ratliff, Atlanta, 133,315; Todd MacCulloch, Philadelphia, 130,256; Elden Campbell, New Orleans, 121,352.

Western Conference

Forwards

Tim Duncan, San Antonio-s, 1,179,955; Kevin Garnett, Minnesota-s, 1,086,780; Dirk Nowitzki, Dal, 1,079,425; Chris Webber, Sacramento, 906,836; Peja Stojakovic, Sacramento, 308,524; Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers, 260,313; Pau Gasol Memphis, 230,285; Scottie Pippen, Portland, 213,529; Robert Horry, L.A. Lakers, 184,971; Rasheed Wallace, Portland, 184,535.

Guards

Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers-s, 1,474,386; Steve Francis, Houston-s, 966,669; Steve Nash, Dal, 786,923; Mike Bibby, Sacramento, 630,766; Gary Payton, Seattle, 511,056; Michael Finley, Dallas, 464,740; Doug Christie, Sacramento, 224,015; Tony Parker, San Antonio, 199,634; John Stockton, Utah, 184,404; Andre Miller, L.A. Clippers, 180,260.

Centers

Yao Ming, Houston-s, 1,286,324; Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers, 1,049,081; Vlade Divac, Sacramento, 362,451; David Robinson, San Antonio, 270,042; Raef LaFrentz, Dallas, 202,325; Michael Olowokandi, L.A. Clippers, 126,992; Arvydas Sabonis, Portland, 91,684; Marcus Camby, Denver, 82,290; Erick Dampier, Golden State, 59,073; Radoslav Nesterovic, Minnesota, 40,726.

NBA leaders

THROUGH JAN. 22

SCORING

	G	FG	FT	PTS	AVG
McGrady, Orl.	39	414	277	1176	30.2
Bryant, LAL	41	411	263	1131	27.6
Iverson, Phil.	42	402	279	1132	27.0
O'Neal, LAL	29	292	180	764	26.3
Pierce, Bos.	42	348	330	1087	25.9
Duncan, S.A.	41	368	231	970	23.7
Rose, Chi.	42	345	215	978	23.3
Jamison, G.S.	41	345	232	951	23.2
Webber, Sac.	37	365	125	856	23.1
Francis, Hou.	40	303	266	921	23.0
Stckhs, Wash.	38	280	253	860	22.6
Davis, Clev.	41	333	211	916	22.3
Nowitzki, Dall.	38	293	205	846	22.3
Garnett, Minn.	42	342	220	919	21.9
Allen, Mil.	35	267	137	765	21.9
Walker, Bos.	41	337	105	892	21.8
Houston, N.Y.	40	303	175	866	21.7
Marbury, Phoe.	42	340	175	899	21.4

FG PERCENTAGE

	FG	FGA	PCT
O'Neal, LAL	292	522	.559
Kirilenko, Utah	157	292	.538
Jefferson, N.J.	230	431	.534
Yao, Hou.	185	357	.518
Harpring, Utah	288	563	.512
Gasol, Mem.	249	487	.511
B. Miller, Ind.	197	386	.510

REBOUNDS

	G	OFF	DEF	TOT	AVG
Wallace, Det.	39	156	427	583	14.9
Garnett, Minn.	42	114	428	542	12.9
Duncan, S.A.	41	122	394	516	12.6
Brand, LAC	39	172	271	443	11.4
Grant, Mia.	42	133	327	460	11.0
Webber, Sac.	37	98	288	386	10.4
Nowitzki, Dall.	38	41	349	390	10.3
O'Neal, Ind.	38	84	299	383	10.1
Murphy, G.S.	41	116	290	406	9.9
Marion, Phoe.	42	122	276	398	9.5

ASSISTS

	G	AST	AVG
Payton, Sea.	40	373	9.3
Kidd, N.J.	41	352	8.6
Marbury, Phoe.	42	339	8.1
Stockton, Utah	41	314	7.7
Tinsley, Ind.	39	295	7.6
Williams, Mem.	37	274	7.4
Miller, LAC	40	296	7.4
Terry, Atl.	42	302	7.2
Bryant, LAL	41	293	7.1
Davis, N.O.	35	241	6.9