Dec.28 - Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming has climbed to second spot on the West Conference poll for the 2008 NBA All Stars with 813,305 votes. This secured the "small giants" high ranking on the conference's centre selection, standing only behind guard player Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers. Bryant, who has been the league's youngest player to shoot 20,000 points, has gained 941,716 picks. Yao's team-mate Tracy Mcgrady is also on the current West Conference starting line-up that also includes San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan and Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets. China's other player in the NBA, Yi Jianlian of the Milwaukee Bucks, remained at fifth place in the forward selections of the East Conference. The 57th NBA All Stars Weekend will be held on February 17 in New Orleans.
