Following the Islamic custom of prearranged marriages, Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon, 33, wed Dalia Asafi, 18, last week in a traditional ceremony in Houston.

Olajuwon worshiped for years at the same Houston mosque as the bride’s father.

But since men and women are separated when praying, he did not meet his future bride or her mother until a meeting was arranged.

The two were married Thursday. It is a first marriage for both. Olajuwon has an 8-year-old daughter from a prior relationship.

Free agent forward Jerome Kersey signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 907 career games, Kersey averaged 11.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.27 steals.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Vernon Maxwell appeared in a Houston courtroom to reassure a judge that a drug rehabilitation program was being followed. Maxwell, 30, was slated for another court appearance in 90 days.

County Court-at-Law Judge Don Jackson sentenced Maxwell in January to 90 days in jail after he failed to meet court orders on a marijuana possession charge. Maxwell’s lawyers are still appealing.

Maxwell pleaded no contest last Oct. 30 to a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession.

He was ordered at the time to complete drug rehabilitation and submit to regular drug testing, requirements he didn’t fulfill before January.