NEW YORK -- Toronto Raptors swingman Vince Carter, who has missed 25 games this season due to injury, continues to lead all Eastern Conference vote-getters for the 2003 All-Star Game, in balloting released Thursday.

	Carter

The normally high-flying Carter has been sidelined most of the season with a left knee strain, but he leads all Eastern Conference forwards with 1,023,750 votes. He is second overall in balloting behind Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.

Bryant, who set NBA records for 3-pointers (12-for-18) and consecutive 3-pointers (nine) in a game Tuesday against the Seattle SuperSonics, has garnered 1,148,754 votes from fans.

Rookie Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets is second overall in the Western Conference with 1,015,018 votes, leading all NBA centers. Lakers superstar Shaquille O'Neal is second in the West with only 784,920.

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs leads all Western Conference forwards with 906,446 votes. Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves is second with 854,811, just over 40,000 more than Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks.

Steve Francis of the Rockets is second among guards in the West, well behind Bryant with 778,518 votes. But he is in good position to start alongside Bryant, leading Dallas' Steve Nash by some 200,000 votes.

Tracy McGrady of the Orlando Magic, Carter's former teammate in Toronto, leads all Eastern Conference guards and is second overall in the conference with 1,016,123 votes. Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers is second among guards with 902,754.

While McGrady and Iverson appear to be in good position to earn starting nods, Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards is third with 795,481 votes.

Ben Wallace is tops among Eastern Conference centers with 854,714 votes, nearly double the total of Dikembe Mutombo of the New Jersey Nets, who is second.

Jermaine O'Neal of the Indiana Pacers is second among forwards in the East with 694,174 votes, leading Orlando's Grant Hill by less than 22,000.

This year's All-Star Game is set for February 9 at Atlanta's Philips Arena.

Balloting is conducted at NBA arenas, online and at various retail outlets. The voting will continue through Sunday and the starters will be announced January 23.

After the fan balloting is completed, the coaches in each conference will select reserves.