Houston to host 2013 NBA All-Star Game

Feb 8, 2012, 19:53 GMT

Los Angeles - Houston, we have a celebration.

Houston, home of the NBA Rockets, will host the 2013 All-Star Game, the league announced Wednesday.

'Houston is a spectacular sports city, and for one week it will be the basketball capital of the world,' NBA Commissioner David Stern said. 'NBA all-star is a magnificent celebration of our game, and I want to thank the city and the Rockets for welcoming us once again.'

The All-Star Game will be played on February 17, 2013, at the Toyota Centre, capping off a weekend of activities, beginning with the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night and Saturday's fan-favourite competitions.

It marks the third time Houston has hosted the league's mid-season showpiece following star-studded events in 1989 at the Astrodome and 2006 in the current venue.

'The All-Star Game showcases the best basketball players in the world and will allow our great Rockets fans and the entire community the opportunity to once again experience the best that our league has to offer,' Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said.

'The 2006 All-Star Game in Houston was a tremendous success, and we plan to set the bar even higher in 2013. We take great pride in Toyota Centre's standing as one of the premier venues in the country and are honoured to be the first arena in Texas to host the game for a second time.'