Houston NBA All-Star Festivities Friday Night Report

High rollers and graying basketball players towered over the crowd Friday night at a Greenway-area Mercedes-Benz dealership that was host to the National Basketball Retired Players Association's charity gala. Inside the dealership, lovely ladies in simple black dresses worked the crowd, handing out drinks, key chains and towels. An outdoor smoke room provided free Nicaraguan cigars. This was just one of many festivities that went on Friday night as NBA players hit the night scene in Houston. Below is the list of festivities Friday night:

  • Cleveland Cavalier's LeBron James hosted an All-Star bash at the Meridian, where Slim Thug performed.

  • Miami Heat Center Shaquille O' Neal hosted the Wedge for the Crash, Cars, and Stars party.

  • Ice Cube, Janet Jackson, Eva Longoria and Snoop Dogg were among the expected guests for ESPN's gathering at the Mercury Room. Guests also included Steve Nash and Terrell Owens.

  • John Legend was billed as the featured entertainment at the Air Jordan XXI Launch Party at the 1001 McKinney Building. Michael Jordan, Fat Joe, and Jadakiss were expected guests.

  • The Ballers Masquerade at Paraiso Maravilla was expected to be a who's who of NBA stars. The hosts are Sam Cassell, Nick Van Exel and Steve Francis.

  • P. Diddy was at the Blackout Party at Jillian's.

  • Nelly, Lunatic, and Usher hosted the All-Star party at Hush.

Alonzo Mourning and his wife, Tracy, were the co-hosts for a brunch Friday at Morton's Steakhouse. The event was a thank-you to participants in Friday's Zo & Magic 8-Ball Celebrity Challenge at Jillian's. The Billiards tournament was a fundraiser for Mourning's charity foundation and that of Magic Johnson. The 10:30 a.m. lunch bell was apparently too much for most of the celebrity pool players. Brunch was prepared about 100 people who had RSVP'd by only 40 attended. Among the recognizable faces were Actress Regina King and rapper Ludacris.