National Basketball Association

Injured McGrady on pace to start All-Star game

Published Dec. 12, 2009 2:47 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kobe Bryant is the leading vote-getter for the NBA All-Star game and Tracy McGrady is on track to join him in the Western Conference backcourt despite not playing yet this season.

Bryant had more than 692,000 votes in the first set of returns announced Thursday, about 20,000 more than East leader Dwyane Wade. Also on track to start for the West in the Feb. 14 game are NBA leading scorer Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki at forwards, and Amare Stoudemire at center.

McGrady is nearing a return from microfracture knee surgery.

LeBron James and Kevin Garnett lead at the East forward position, Dwight Howard has a huge advantage over Shaquille O'Neal, and his Orlando teammate Vince Carter is second among guards.