ALL-STAR VOTERS STILL BELIEVE IN BRYANT LAKERS STAR APPRECIATIVE OF SUPPORT.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - More than a half-million people so far have voted to put Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star Game, a collective gesture that speaks to his enduring popularity, his athletic superiority and, perhaps, to a belief that he is innocent of criminal charges pending in Colorado.

According to the league, Bryant received 577,505 votes in the first month of balloting - tops in the Western Conference and third overall, behind Toronto's Vince Carter (696,652) and Detroit's Ben Wallace (597,959).

Nothing on the NBA's official punchcard ballot allows fans to indicate motives, so the raw figures are left open to many interpretations. But All-Star voting is nothing if not a popularity contest, and based on initial returns, Bryant remains immensely popular, despite the rape allegation that hangs over him.

To the Lakers' embattled star, the votes were nothing less than a massive pledge of support during his darkest hour.

Usually articulate, he stammered and paused as he tried to express his feelings Thursday afternoon.

``Aww, man. Uh, whew. I really don't ... know how to ... quite ... explain it,'' he said. ``I mean it's, um, thank you. Just, thank you. I really appreciate that. It really shows a lot of - it shows I have a lot of support out there, and I really appreciate that.''

Balloting for the All-Star Game, which will be held Feb. 15 at Staples Center, opened Nov. 13, and closes Jan. 18. The first results released covered the period that ended Wednesday.

Since training camp opened in early October, Bryant has maintained he would ``expect the worst,'' whether from rowdy fans on the road, people on the street or those wielding ballots in a popularity contest. So he called the first returns ``very unexpected.''

``That really shows their support for me and the love that they have for what I do and what I stand for,'' he said.

And, perhaps, it reflects a belief in Bryant's character as well as he fights to prove his innocence. Bryant's next court appearance is scheduled for next Friday in Eagle, Colo.

``I think that says a lot, the fact that they're standing by me right now and they're showing their support through the voting, says a lot about how they feel about me as a person,'' he said.

There is nothing scientific in the voting process: Fans can punch as many ballot cards as they wish, and can also vote on the Internet. An unscientific comparison to past All-Star balloting could even suggest Bryant's popularity has dipped some.

In initial balloting returns released one year ago, Bryant was by far the most popular player in the league, earning 659,998 votes. (His closest rival, Carter, had 62,300 fewer votes.)

But two years ago, the first returns showed Bryant as the No. 3 vote- getter, with 363,184 votes, behind Carter and teammate Shaquille O'Neal.

Because the league does not indicate the total ballots cast in early returns, it is impossible to track Bryant's popularity as a percentage of total votes. Thus, any comparison to past years is inherently imperfect.

To the Lakers, however, the message sent by fans is crystal clear.

``It just shows the fans definitely support him,'' said Karl Malone, who joined the Lakers this summer and has built a relationship with Bryant over the past two months. ``I think it'll mean a lot to him as well because maybe at times he thought people had mixed emotions. I think people are showing him that they still care a great deal about him.

``I don't think it's a surprise. Unfortunately, in our society, people forget about the thousands of good things that you do and they think about the one negative, and that's what people dwell on. But it just goes to show you that people are forgiving and they accept you for who you are.''

Although the public at large can be quick to judge celebrities accused of wrongdoing, Bryant apparently is being given the benefit of the doubt.

``You can't take away from the fact that he's great at what he does,'' said Derek Fisher, Bryant's teammate since both were rookies in 1996, ``and it's great to see that people still have a respect for the judicial system, in terms of him being innocent until possibly being proven guilty of an alleged crime. And that's great to see.''

Phil Jackson, Bryant's coach the past four-plus seasons, was unsurprised at the strong show of support.

``His fans have been really loyal,'' Jackson said. ``That's good for him, I think, particularly at this time.''

Howard Beck, [phone]

howard.beck(at)dailynews.com

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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant received 577,505 votes in the first month of All-Star balloting - best in the Western Conference and third overall.

Eric Gay/Associated Press