Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard elected an All-Star Game starter for the third season in a row

The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard now knows for certain how he'll spend Valentine's Day.

He'll be the starting center for the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas.

The league announced the final results of fan balloting on Thursday night. Howard received 2,360,096 votes, almost three times as many votes as his next closest competitor at the position, Cleveland's Shaquille O'Neal.

"I'm just happy to be able to represent my team and my organization in the all-star game," Howard said. "I'm going to continue to work to get better. I strive to be the best player I can be, and one of the best players to play. Playing in the all-star game, just being around the other all-stars and just playing in front of the fans, it's a great honor."

Cleveland's LeBron James finished with a league-best 2.55 million votes. Boston's Kevin Garnett, Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and Miami's Dwyane Wade also were elected starters for the East.

The Magic's Vince Carter finished third among East guards, almost 220,000 votes behind Iverson.

The Los Angeles' Lakers Kobe Bryant was the West's leading vote-getter. Denver's Carmelo Anthony, San Antonio's Tim Duncan, and Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire and Steve Nash also will start for the West.

The reserves will be determined through a vote of league head coaches and will be announced on Thursday.

Howard now has been elected an All-Star starter three seasons in a row.

"He's very deserving," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "There's nobody else that could've been chosen the all-star starter in the Eastern Conference. He's been phenomenal."