Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets' third-year center from China, is the early overall leader in fan voting for the National Basketball Association All-Star Game.

Yao collected 881,223 votes in the first returns announced Thursday. He is seeking his third straight All-Star start for the Western Conference.

Yao has a slim edge over Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal, who leads the Eastern Conference with 854,930 votes.

O'Neal was the Most Valuable Player of last season's All-Star Game when he was with the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference. In the East, O'Neal leads Detroit's Ben Wallace.

The All-Star Game will be held February 20 in Denver.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, last season's NBA MVP, is next in the Western Conference with 751,586 votes. He leads San Antonio's Tim Duncan by more than 200,000 votes among Western Conference forwards. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki (321,177) is third at the position.

Houston's Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant of the Lakers lead all Western Conference guards. They have a sizeable lead over Steve Nash, who has energized the Phoenix Suns in his return to the franchise.

(Agencies)