For the third time in city history, and the second since 2006, Houston will host the NBA All-Star Game, and all the festivities surrounding it, in 2013.
The weekend, which includes the All-Star Game, the Dunk Contest and the Three-Point Shootout, is one of the biggest drivers of tourism in American sports.
Thousands of fans, celebrities and players will congregate for a four-day weekend sure to keep Houston-area bars and night-life spots hopping well into the night.
The NBA has worked hard to rehabilitate the reputation of All-Star Weekend, which reached a zenith in 2007 when NFL CB Adam "Pacman" Jones was involved in a strip-club shootout that left one man paralyzed in Las Vegas.
The league has boosted its charity efforts in the host city in recent years, while also ramping up security at league-sanctioned events.
Houston is sure to be a popular choice for the players, as many NBA stars make it their home in the off-season.