Los Angeles - Even though it's a new year, old familiar faces Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers continue as the top vote-getters in the NBA All-Star balloting for their respective Eastern and Western Conferences.

Howard, the league's top rebounder, remains the overall leader with 1,709,088 votes, while reigning league Most Valuable Player Bryant received 1,534,020, after the results of the third returns were announced on Thursday.

Cleveland's LeBron James (1,521,272) and Boston's Kevin Garnett (1,101,541) hold down the two Eastern Conference forward spots, while Miami's Dwyane Wade
(1,473,225) and Allen Iverson (1,027,153) lead at the guard position.

Bryant is currently joined in the Western Conference backcourt by Houston's Tracy McGrady with 961,852 votes. San Antonio's Tim Duncan (1,132,095) and Amare Stoudemire (743,639) of Phoenix top the forwards, while China's Yao Ming (1,296,126) of Houston leads the centres.

Voting will continue through January 11 for paper balloting and January 19 for wireless balloting. The All-Star starters will be announced three days later for the league's mid-season extravaganza, to be played in Phoenix on Sunday, February 15. (dpa)