Los Angeles  - Dwight Howard put on a red Superman cape last year and soared to a resounding victory in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. This year, the Orlando Magic centre didn't need any superpowers to become the first player in NBA All-Star Game balloting history to top 3 million votes.

"I truly want to thank the fans for voting for me," said Howard, who garnered 3.15 million votes to shatter the previous mark of 2.56 million collected by China's Yao Ming of Houston in 2005. "It's an honour to take part in All-Star Weekend. I hope to share the experience with my teammates as well."

Howard, who has helped establish the Magic (33-8) as a league powerhouse, was among the Eastern and Western Conference starters officially announced Thursday night for the league's mid-season extravaganza, to be played February 15 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Making his third All-Star appearance and second as the East's starting centre, Howard was joined by Cleveland's LeBron James and Boston's Kevin Garnett while Miami's Dwyane Wade and Detroit's Allen Iverson are the guards.

"It's awesome to be a starter in the All-Star game," said James, a most valuable player in 2006 and '08. "A lot of fans respect the way I play the game of basketball and the way I approach the game every night. Much respect and much love for the fans out there who voted me again as a starter."

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers heads the Western Conference squad. The league's reigning most valuable player was paired in the backcourt with New Orleans' Chris Paul. San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Amare Stoudemire of host Phoenix are the forwards while Yao is to start at centre.

The seven reserves for each team are to be voted on by the conference coaches with the results to be announced January 29.

The Lakers' Phil Jackson was named to guide the West after clinching no worse than a share of the best record, by February 1, after his club's 108-97 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night. San Antonio could tie, but Jackson would get the nod because Spurs coach Gregg Popovich coached an All-Star Game most recently in
2005.

Orlando's Stan Van Gundy and Cleveland's Mike Brown are the top candidates to coach the East while last year's skipper, Doc Rivers, is ineligible. (dpa)