Not even a disappointing start could keep Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets from gaining accolades from NBA fans.

Yao is the leading vote-getter with 729,178 and McGrady leads all Western Conference forwards after the first returns of the 2006 NBA All-Star Balloting program, announced Thursday.

Through the program, fans from around the world are responsible for voting in the starters for the 55th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Houston on Sunday, February 19.

The Rockets (8-12) are in last place in the Southwest Conference due in part to a back injury that has forced McGrady to miss eight games. Yao is a three-time All-Star averaging a career-high 19.5 points and 9.10 rebounds and McGrady is averaging 24.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

A five-time All-Star, McGrady has garnered 600,507 votes and is followed by Minnesota's Kevin Garnett with 469,497. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is the top vote-getter among Western Conference guards with 664,744 with reigning league Most Valuable Player Steve Nash second with 562,846.