Posted by Ben Golliver. 
MyFoxHouston.com reports that Houston will play host to the NBA's annual weekend extravaganza in 2013.
NBA sources told FOX 26 Sports the Houston Rockets and the City of Houston landed the NBA All-Star Game in 2013. The game will be played at Toyota Center on Feb. 17, 2013. NBA All-Star week will be Feb. 15-17. The Rockets and Toyota Center also hosted the game in 2006.
Houston is the United States' fourth largest city, boasting a population of more than 2 million residents. It also happens to be in a warm weather locale unlike New York City and Chicago. That's crucial for a multi-venue, multi-day event that takes place in February.
The big question: will the hometown Rockets have an All-Star selected to the Western Conference squad? Center Yao Ming was a penciled-in starter for years thanks to his contingent of Chinese fans, but his retirement in July created a huge hole in the middle and a massive absence of starpower on the roster.
The last member of the Rockets to make an All-Star Game besides Yao was the since-departed Tracy McGrady, in 2007. No current member of the Rockets looks like a potential All-Star, unless point Kyle Lowry somehow continues to improve by leaps and bounds or wing Kevin Martin stays healthy to put together a career year of high-efficiency basketball. If neither of those eventualities develop, there is one last possibility: the Rockets could finally cash in all of their minor assets to make a long-anticipated trade for a legit star. Don't hold your breath.
The city of Orlando, Florida, and the brand spanking new Amway Center are on tap to host the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, should it take place.
