The Rockets will host the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, a person familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

The game will be held on Feb. 17th.

Houston last hosted the game in 2006.

Yao Ming could be eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame as soon as the next class.

Officials of the basketball museum said representatives from the Chinese Basketball Association and media in China signaled plans to nominate Yao in the contributor category and that he will bypass the standard five-year waiting period for retired players.

Yao being nominated as a contributor removes the debate that might have accompanied his nomination as a player after an injury-plagued career. 

When Yao retired, NBA commissioner David Stern called him a "transformational player and a testament to the globalization of our game" and that "his dominant play and endearing demeanor along with his extensive humanitarian efforts have made him an international fan favorite and provided an extraordinary bridge between basketball fans in the United States and China."