Steve Francis
Encyclopedia
Steven D'Shawn Francis is an American
professional basketball
player who last played for the Beijing Ducks
of the Chinese Basketball Association
. He had also played for the Houston Rockets
, Orlando Magic
, and New York Knicks
. Nicknamed "Stevie Franchise" and self-described as "Steve-O", he was known early in his career for his crossover dribble
, driving ability, and flashy dunks.
. He was nicknamed "Wink" as a child. After his mother died of cancer in 1995, his grandmother raised him. He stopped playing basketball for two years after his mother's death.
Francis attended the San Jacinto College
of Texas in 1996–97, and the Allegany College of Maryland
in 1997–98. Francis became the first player to take two unbeaten teams into the National Junior College Tournament.
in 1998 for his junior season. The addition of Francis helped propel the Terrapins to a #5 preseason ranking. Francis made an instant impact as Maryland's starting shooting guard, scoring 17 points in the season opener against Western Carolina. Francis and the Terps gained national attention with impressive showings in the Puerto Rico Shootout and a 62–60 win over #5 Stanford in the BB&T Classic. The Terps climbed to a #2 national ranking by early December.
The Terrapins finished second in the ACC and Francis was named to the All-ACC first team and the All ACC Tournament team. The Terrapins were a number 2 seed in the NCAA tournament but were defeated by St. John's in the Sweet 16. Under Francis' leadership, Maryland finished with a school record-setting 28 wins and only 6 losses and were ranked #5 in the final Associated Press
poll.
Francis finished the season averaging 17 points per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 2.8 steals per game. He was a consensus second-team All-American and was named a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year
Awards. Although he stated he was "99% sure" he would return to Maryland for his senior season, he opted to enter the NBA draft.
by the Vancouver Grizzlies
. He publicly announced that he did not want to play for the Grizzlies, citing the distance from his Maryland home, taxes, endorsements, and God
's will. Heavily criticized for his antics, especially in Vancouver, he relented and briefly considered joining the Grizzlies before contentious negotiations and an incident at the Vancouver airport convinced both the franchise and Francis they needed to go separate ways.
Francis got his wish, being traded before the 1999–2000 season began to the Houston Rockets
in a three-team, 11-player deal that brought Michael Dickerson
, Othella Harrington
, Antoine Carr
and Brent Price
, plus first- and second-round picks to the Grizzlies. It was the largest trade in NBA history at that time.
Despite sharing Rookie of the Year honors with Elton Brand
and finishing as runner-up to Vince Carter
in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest
, the Francis-led Rockets finished with a 34–48 record.
The next season the Rockets improved to 45–37 but still missed the playoffs. In his 3rd year, Francis upped his game and was chosen by fans to start the 2002 NBA All-Star contest, but ended up playing only 55 games due to a foot injury and recurring Ménière's
-induced migraines. As a result the Rockets posted a dismal 28–54 record, propelling them into the lottery, where they selected 7'6" Chinese center Yao Ming
with the first pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Francis and Yao gelled their first season together, being selected as 2003 All-Star Game starters. Francis scored a career-high 44 points in a nationally televised home win against the Lakers on January 17, 2003. The team, though, fell to 43–39 and failed to make the playoffs.
Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich
stepped down in 2003, the team selecting ex-Knick coach Jeff Van Gundy
as his successor. Unfortunately for Francis, Van Gundy's coaching style did not fit the speedy shooting guard's style of play. Even though Francis made the All Star game for a third straight year his stats declined in 2003–04, dropping from 21.0 PPG 6.2 APG 6.2 RPG to 16.6 PPG 5.5 RPG 6.2 APG. The team, however, made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, which would prove Francis's only post-season experience. Despite his averaging 19.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 7.6 apg, the Rockets lost to the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers
, in five games.
As Francis' relationship with Van Gundy deteriorated it was apparent that the Rockets wanted to go in a different direction. While the coach sought to focus the Rockets offense on Yao, the team ended up trading Francis, along with his best friend on the team Cuttino Mobley
and Kelvin Cato
, for then scoring champ Tracy McGrady
, Juwan Howard
, and Reece Gaines
.
During Francis' first tenure in Houston, he averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.63 steals in 374 games (372 starts).
. After posting a career-low 16.6 points per game the previous year with the Rockets, Francis averaged 21.3 PPG, 7.0 APG and 5.8 RPG in his first season with the Magic. The Magic started out the year fast in the 2004–05 season, with Francis hitting several game-winning shots early in the season. In the middle of the season, Mobley was traded to the Sacramento Kings
, which upset Francis. The Magic slumped late and missed the playoffs.
The following season, a disgruntled Francis was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. On February 5, 2006, there were rumors that he could be traded to the Denver Nuggets
for Earl Watson
but they were later dismissed and GM
Otis Smith
publicly announced that he would not trade Francis. However, rumors persisted that Francis would be traded to the New York Knicks
, Los Angeles Lakers
, Minnesota Timberwolves
, and Denver Nuggets
.
for small forward
Trevor Ariza
and the expiring contract of shooting guard
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
. Prior to the trade, the Denver Nuggets reportedly offered both Watson and Kenyon Martin
for Francis, but the deal never took place. He made his Madison Square Garden
debut on Friday, February 24 when the New York Knicks faced the New Jersey Nets
, and scored 16 points in a 94–90 loss for the Knicks. He wore jersey #1 with the Knicks as his usual #3 was already assigned to Stephon Marbury
. Francis has endured a recurring injury, tendinitis in his right knee, and as a result began the 2006–07 season averaging only 11.3 ppg, as opposed to his career 18.4 ppg. He returned on February 10, 2007 vs the Utah Jazz
. On March 10, Francis hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer against the Washington Wizards
, ending one of his best games as a Knick in front of his hometown. On 2007 draft
night, June 28, the Knicks traded Francis and Channing Frye
to the Portland Trail Blazers
for Zach Randolph
, Dan Dickau
, and Fred Jones, which then bought out the remaining two years of Francis's contract for a reported $30 million, making him an unrestricted free agent.
, Dallas Mavericks
, Houston Rockets
, and the L.A. Clippers
pursued Francis. On July 20, Francis chose the Rockets; signing a two-year $6 million contract with them, although the Heat offered the most money. However, he failed to make Rick Adelman
's rotation coming out of the preseason. He averaged 5.5 points and 3 assists in ten games before undergoing season-ending surgery stemming from an earlier left quadriceps tendon injury.
Francis used his contract option to come back to the Houston Rockets for the 2008–09 NBA season
. He lost 15 pounds for training camp, but he was not able to play in the beginning of the season due to the recovery period of his injury.
On December 24, 2008, The Houston Rockets traded Francis back to the team that had originally drafted him, the Memphis Grizzlies, for a 2011 conditional draft pick. The move allowed the Rockets to drop under the luxury tax threshold. However, on January 27, 2009, it was reported that Francis was waived by the Grizzlies, without ever appearing in a game for them.
. He averaged 0.5 points and 0.7 rebounds over four games, playing 14 minutes before leaving the team in late December to return to the U.S.
for his third season with the Rockets
. He said, "I remember all of the people here supporting me while I was a Maryland student, and this is just a small way that I can give back to those who have helped me."
On February 17, 2002, Francis' #23 jersey was honored (but not retired) by Maryland in a ceremony preceding the game against the #1 ranked Duke Blue Devils. Francis sat on the team's bench during the game and cheered as the Terrapins upset the Blue Devils 87–73.
On election day 2008, Francis supported presidential candidate Barack Obama by wearing a red velvet sports jacket with "Barack Obama" spelled on the back in sequins. Francis said he had followed the presidential race closely.
"It's important that there is an African-American candidate running," Francis said. "I never thought I'd see the day that would happen. Right now, we're at a pivotal point. It's a great feeling for me." .
Francis has suffered from Meniere's disease
, which causes migraine headaches.
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Houston
| 77 || 77 || 36.1 || .445 || .345 || .786 || 5.3 || 6.6 || 1.5 || .4 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Houston
| 80 || 79 || 39.9 || .451 || .396 || .817 || 6.9 || 6.5 || 1.8 || .4 || 19.9
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Houston
| 57 || 56 || 41.1 || .417 || .324 || .773 || 7.0 || 6.4 || 1.2 || .4 || 21.6
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Houston
| 81 || 81 || 41.0 || .435 || .354 || .800 || 6.2 || 6.2 || 1.7 || .5 || 21.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Houston
| 79 || 79 || 40.4 || .403 || .292 || .775 || 5.5 || 6.2 || 1.8 || .4 || 16.6
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Orlando
| 78 || 78 || 38.2 || .423 || .299 || .823 || 5.8 || 7.0 || 1.4 || .4 || 21.3
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Orlando
| 46 || 45 || 37.7 || .433 || .257 || .797 || 4.8 || 5.7 || 1.1 || .2 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | New York
| 24 || 15 || 27.5 || .442 || .538 || .761 || 3.0 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .2 || 10.8
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | New York
| 44 || 30 || 28.1 || .408 || .378 || .829 || 3.6 || 3.9 || .9 || .3 || 11.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Houston
| 10 || 3 || 19.9 || .333 || .235 || .565 || 2.3 || 3.0 || .9 || .5 || 5.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 576 || 543 || 37.6 || .429 || .341 || .797 || 5.6 || 6.0 || 1.5 || .3 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 3 || 3 || 24.3 || .552 || .500 || .500 || 2.7 || 5.3 || .7 || .0 || 12.0
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Houston
| 5 || 5 || 44.4 || .429 || .412 || .725 || 8.4 || 7.6 || 1.4 || .2 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 5 || 5 || 44.4 || .429 || .412 || .725 || 8.4 || 7.6 || 1.4 || .2 || 19.2
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Beijing
| 4 || 0 || 3.4 || .375 || .000 || .000 || .8 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 4 || 0 || 3.4 || .375 || .000 || .000 || .8 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .5
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who last played for the Beijing Ducks
Beijing Ducks
Beijing Jinyu Ducks or Beijing Ducks or Beijing Jinyu is a basketball team in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association, based in Beijing. They were formerly known as the Beijing Shougang Ducks or Beijing Shougang; the name change was likely due to a change of corporate sponsorship...
of the Chinese Basketball Association
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
. He had also played for the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, and New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Nicknamed "Stevie Franchise" and self-described as "Steve-O", he was known early in his career for his crossover dribble
Crossover dribble
A crossover dribble is a basketball maneuver in which a player dribbling the ball switches the ball rapidly from one hand to the other, to make a change in direction. In a typical example the player heads upcourt, dribbling the ball in the left hand, then makes a wide step left with a good head fake...
, driving ability, and flashy dunks.
Early years
Francis grew up in Takoma Park, MarylandTakoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C., and part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City," is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone...
. He was nicknamed "Wink" as a child. After his mother died of cancer in 1995, his grandmother raised him. He stopped playing basketball for two years after his mother's death.
Francis attended the San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College is a community college in the Greater Houston area in the U.S. state of Texas. Established in 1961, San Jacinto College originally consisted of the areas of Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, Galena Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and Pasadena ISD. The College now also serves Sheldon ISD,...
of Texas in 1996–97, and the Allegany College of Maryland
Allegany College of Maryland
Allegany College of Maryland is a two-year public community college located in Cumberland, Maryland. It was previously known as Allegany Community College .- History :...
in 1997–98. Francis became the first player to take two unbeaten teams into the National Junior College Tournament.
University of Maryland
Francis transferred to the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1998 for his junior season. The addition of Francis helped propel the Terrapins to a #5 preseason ranking. Francis made an instant impact as Maryland's starting shooting guard, scoring 17 points in the season opener against Western Carolina. Francis and the Terps gained national attention with impressive showings in the Puerto Rico Shootout and a 62–60 win over #5 Stanford in the BB&T Classic. The Terps climbed to a #2 national ranking by early December.
The Terrapins finished second in the ACC and Francis was named to the All-ACC first team and the All ACC Tournament team. The Terrapins were a number 2 seed in the NCAA tournament but were defeated by St. John's in the Sweet 16. Under Francis' leadership, Maryland finished with a school record-setting 28 wins and only 6 losses and were ranked #5 in the final Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
poll.
Francis finished the season averaging 17 points per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 2.8 steals per game. He was a consensus second-team All-American and was named a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year
Naismith College Player of the Year
The Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
Awards. Although he stated he was "99% sure" he would return to Maryland for his senior season, he opted to enter the NBA draft.
Houston Rockets (1999–2004)
Francis was selected second in the 1999 NBA Draft1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
by the Vancouver Grizzlies
Vancouver Grizzlies
The Vancouver Grizzlies were a professional basketball team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were part of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Toronto Raptors, as part of the NBA's...
. He publicly announced that he did not want to play for the Grizzlies, citing the distance from his Maryland home, taxes, endorsements, and God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
's will. Heavily criticized for his antics, especially in Vancouver, he relented and briefly considered joining the Grizzlies before contentious negotiations and an incident at the Vancouver airport convinced both the franchise and Francis they needed to go separate ways.
Francis got his wish, being traded before the 1999–2000 season began to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in a three-team, 11-player deal that brought Michael Dickerson
Michael Dickerson
Michael DeAngelo Dickerson is an American professional basketball player who was a member of the Houston Rockets and Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. He is a cousin of former NBA guard David Wesley....
, Othella Harrington
Othella Harrington
Othella Harrington is a retired American professional basketball player and current coach. After he finished his high school career at Murrah High School, he played in college at Georgetown University where he teamed with NBA superstar Allen Iverson...
, Antoine Carr
Antoine Carr
Antoine Labotte Carr is a retired American basketball player. A 16-year NBA journeyman, he was known for the goggles he wore onto the court.-Early life:Antoine Carr was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...
and Brent Price
Brent Price
Hartley Brent Price, better known as Brent Price , is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He is the younger brother of former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Mark Price.- Career :...
, plus first- and second-round picks to the Grizzlies. It was the largest trade in NBA history at that time.
Despite sharing Rookie of the Year honors with Elton Brand
Elton Brand
Elton Tyron Brand is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association...
and finishing as runner-up to Vince Carter
Vince Carter
Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward....
in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest
Slam Dunk Contest
The Slam Dunk Contest is an annual National Basketball Association competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. The contest was inaugurated by the American Basketball Association at its All-Star Game in 1976 in Denver, the same year the slam dunk was legalized in the NCAA...
, the Francis-led Rockets finished with a 34–48 record.
The next season the Rockets improved to 45–37 but still missed the playoffs. In his 3rd year, Francis upped his game and was chosen by fans to start the 2002 NBA All-Star contest, but ended up playing only 55 games due to a foot injury and recurring Ménière's
Ménière's disease
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance to a varying degree. It is characterized by episodes of vertigo and tinnitus and progressive hearing loss, usually in one ear. It is named after the French physician Prosper Ménière, who, in an article published...
-induced migraines. As a result the Rockets posted a dismal 28–54 record, propelling them into the lottery, where they selected 7'6" Chinese center Yao Ming
Yao Ming
Yao Ming is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association...
with the first pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Francis and Yao gelled their first season together, being selected as 2003 All-Star Game starters. Francis scored a career-high 44 points in a nationally televised home win against the Lakers on January 17, 2003. The team, though, fell to 43–39 and failed to make the playoffs.
Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudolph Tomjanovich, Jr. , nicknamed Rudy T., is an American retired basketball player and coach who coached the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships. He is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.-Early life:...
stepped down in 2003, the team selecting ex-Knick coach Jeff Van Gundy
Jeff Van Gundy
Jeffrey William "Jeff" Van Gundy is a former American basketball head coach. He coached most recently with the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets...
as his successor. Unfortunately for Francis, Van Gundy's coaching style did not fit the speedy shooting guard's style of play. Even though Francis made the All Star game for a third straight year his stats declined in 2003–04, dropping from 21.0 PPG 6.2 APG 6.2 RPG to 16.6 PPG 5.5 RPG 6.2 APG. The team, however, made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, which would prove Francis's only post-season experience. Despite his averaging 19.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 7.6 apg, the Rockets lost to the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, in five games.
As Francis' relationship with Van Gundy deteriorated it was apparent that the Rockets wanted to go in a different direction. While the coach sought to focus the Rockets offense on Yao, the team ended up trading Francis, along with his best friend on the team Cuttino Mobley
Cuttino Mobley
Cuttino Rashawn Mobley is a former American professional basketball shooting guard who played from 1998 to 2008 in the National Basketball Association .-Biography:...
and Kelvin Cato
Kelvin Cato
- College career :Cato was an obscure player averaging six points and six rebounds at the University of South Alabama in 1992-93. At that time, he struck up a relationship with then University of New Orleans coach Tim Floyd, who recognized Cato's potential. In 1994, Floyd took over as head coach...
, for then scoring champ Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady
Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr., is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons.Entering the league after graduating from high school, McGrady eventually became a seven-time All-Star. He led the league in scoring in 2003 and 2004. He has also played for the Toronto...
, Juwan Howard
Juwan Howard
Juwan Antonio Howard is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . The Heat were his eighth different NBA team. He was drafted fifth overall in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets...
, and Reece Gaines
Reece Gaines
Clifton Reece Gaines is an American professional basketball guard.Gaines, a 6'6", 205 lb shooting guard played high school basketball at Madison West in his hometown...
.
During Francis' first tenure in Houston, he averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.63 steals in 374 games (372 starts).
Orlando Magic (2004–2006)
At first, Francis was unhappy with the trade to Orlando, but adapted to his new environment. Francis flourished in the "run n' gun" offense of interim head coach Chris JentChris Jent
Chris Jent is a retired American professional basketball player and former coach in the NBA. He is currently an assistant coach at his alma mater, Ohio State.Jent was born in Orange, California and grew up in Sparta, New Jersey...
. After posting a career-low 16.6 points per game the previous year with the Rockets, Francis averaged 21.3 PPG, 7.0 APG and 5.8 RPG in his first season with the Magic. The Magic started out the year fast in the 2004–05 season, with Francis hitting several game-winning shots early in the season. In the middle of the season, Mobley was traded to the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, which upset Francis. The Magic slumped late and missed the playoffs.
The following season, a disgruntled Francis was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. On February 5, 2006, there were rumors that he could be traded to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
for Earl Watson
Earl Watson
Earl Joseph Watson, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Watson is a graduate of Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas...
but they were later dismissed and GM
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Otis Smith
Otis Smith (basketball)
Otis Fitzgerald Smith is a retired American professional basketball player and current general manager of the NBA's Orlando Magic...
publicly announced that he would not trade Francis. However, rumors persisted that Francis would be traded to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
, and Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
.
New York Knicks (2006–2007)
On February 22, 2006, one day before the NBA's trade deadline, Steve Francis was traded to the New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
Trevor Ariza
Trevor Ariza
Trevor Anthony Ariza is an American basketball player in the National Basketball Association who plays for the New Orleans Hornets. Primarily a small forward, he is listed at tall and 210 pounds.-Biography:...
and the expiring contract of shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
Penny Hardaway
Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway is a former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association , specializing as a small forward, shooting guard, and point guard. His most productive years came in his days as a member of the Orlando Magic as well as the early...
. Prior to the trade, the Denver Nuggets reportedly offered both Watson and Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Lee Martin is an American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "K-Mart", he plays for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China. He was selected first overall in the 2000 NBA Draft, and has played in the NBA for the New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets...
for Francis, but the deal never took place. He made his Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
debut on Friday, February 24 when the New York Knicks faced the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and scored 16 points in a 94–90 loss for the Knicks. He wore jersey #1 with the Knicks as his usual #3 was already assigned to Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury
Stephon Xavier Marbury is an American professional basketball player.The , point guard was selected out of the Georgia Institute of Technology by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly thereafter to the Minnesota Timberwolves.He was an NBA...
. Francis has endured a recurring injury, tendinitis in his right knee, and as a result began the 2006–07 season averaging only 11.3 ppg, as opposed to his career 18.4 ppg. He returned on February 10, 2007 vs the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. On March 10, Francis hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer against the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, ending one of his best games as a Knick in front of his hometown. On 2007 draft
2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
night, June 28, the Knicks traded Francis and Channing Frye
Channing Frye
Channing Thomas Frye is an American professional basketball player and currently plays for the Phoenix Suns. His positions are center and power forward. He attended the University of Arizona...
to the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
for Zach Randolph
Zach Randolph
Zachary Randolph , nicknamed Z-Bo, is an American professional basketball player currently with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA...
, Dan Dickau
Dan Dickau
Daniel David "Dan" Dickau is an American professional basketball player.-Early life and college:Born in Portland, Oregon, Dickau graduated from Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, Washington. He played for the University of Washington Huskies prior to transferring to, and becoming a standout...
, and Fred Jones, which then bought out the remaining two years of Francis's contract for a reported $30 million, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Return to Houston (2007–2008)
The Miami HeatMiami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
, Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, and the L.A. Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
pursued Francis. On July 20, Francis chose the Rockets; signing a two-year $6 million contract with them, although the Heat offered the most money. However, he failed to make Rick Adelman
Rick Adelman
Richard Leonard "Rick" Adelman is an American former basketball professional player and current basketball coach. He is the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA. Confirmation of the hiring came from the Timberwolves on September 13, 2011...
's rotation coming out of the preseason. He averaged 5.5 points and 3 assists in ten games before undergoing season-ending surgery stemming from an earlier left quadriceps tendon injury.
Francis used his contract option to come back to the Houston Rockets for the 2008–09 NBA season
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
. He lost 15 pounds for training camp, but he was not able to play in the beginning of the season due to the recovery period of his injury.
On December 24, 2008, The Houston Rockets traded Francis back to the team that had originally drafted him, the Memphis Grizzlies, for a 2011 conditional draft pick. The move allowed the Rockets to drop under the luxury tax threshold. However, on January 27, 2009, it was reported that Francis was waived by the Grizzlies, without ever appearing in a game for them.
Chinese Basketball Association
In November 2010, Francis signed with the Beijing DucksBeijing Ducks
Beijing Jinyu Ducks or Beijing Ducks or Beijing Jinyu is a basketball team in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association, based in Beijing. They were formerly known as the Beijing Shougang Ducks or Beijing Shougang; the name change was likely due to a change of corporate sponsorship...
. He averaged 0.5 points and 0.7 rebounds over four games, playing 14 minutes before leaving the team in late December to return to the U.S.
Personal
In September 2001, a tornado struck the University of Maryland campus and killed two students and displaced 700 more from their dormitory. Francis, who was on the campus at the time, arranged to sponsor a dinner for the displaced students before he flew back to HoustonHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
for his third season with the Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. He said, "I remember all of the people here supporting me while I was a Maryland student, and this is just a small way that I can give back to those who have helped me."
On February 17, 2002, Francis' #23 jersey was honored (but not retired) by Maryland in a ceremony preceding the game against the #1 ranked Duke Blue Devils. Francis sat on the team's bench during the game and cheered as the Terrapins upset the Blue Devils 87–73.
On election day 2008, Francis supported presidential candidate Barack Obama by wearing a red velvet sports jacket with "Barack Obama" spelled on the back in sequins. Francis said he had followed the presidential race closely.
"It's important that there is an African-American candidate running," Francis said. "I never thought I'd see the day that would happen. Right now, we're at a pivotal point. It's a great feeling for me." .
Francis has suffered from Meniere's disease
Ménière's disease
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance to a varying degree. It is characterized by episodes of vertigo and tinnitus and progressive hearing loss, usually in one ear. It is named after the French physician Prosper Ménière, who, in an article published...
, which causes migraine headaches.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
| 77 || 77 || 36.1 || .445 || .345 || .786 || 5.3 || 6.6 || 1.5 || .4 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Houston
| 80 || 79 || 39.9 || .451 || .396 || .817 || 6.9 || 6.5 || 1.8 || .4 || 19.9
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Houston
| 57 || 56 || 41.1 || .417 || .324 || .773 || 7.0 || 6.4 || 1.2 || .4 || 21.6
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Houston
| 81 || 81 || 41.0 || .435 || .354 || .800 || 6.2 || 6.2 || 1.7 || .5 || 21.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | Houston
| 79 || 79 || 40.4 || .403 || .292 || .775 || 5.5 || 6.2 || 1.8 || .4 || 16.6
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Orlando
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
| 78 || 78 || 38.2 || .423 || .299 || .823 || 5.8 || 7.0 || 1.4 || .4 || 21.3
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Orlando
| 46 || 45 || 37.7 || .433 || .257 || .797 || 4.8 || 5.7 || 1.1 || .2 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 24 || 15 || 27.5 || .442 || .538 || .761 || 3.0 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .2 || 10.8
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | New York
| 44 || 30 || 28.1 || .408 || .378 || .829 || 3.6 || 3.9 || .9 || .3 || 11.3
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Houston
| 10 || 3 || 19.9 || .333 || .235 || .565 || 2.3 || 3.0 || .9 || .5 || 5.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 576 || 543 || 37.6 || .429 || .341 || .797 || 5.6 || 6.0 || 1.5 || .3 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 3 || 3 || 24.3 || .552 || .500 || .500 || 2.7 || 5.3 || .7 || .0 || 12.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2003–04
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
| align="left" | Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
| 5 || 5 || 44.4 || .429 || .412 || .725 || 8.4 || 7.6 || 1.4 || .2 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 5 || 5 || 44.4 || .429 || .412 || .725 || 8.4 || 7.6 || 1.4 || .2 || 19.2
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 CBA season
-All-star game:-Slam Dunk Contest:-Three-Point Shootout:-Skills Challenge:-Playoffs:Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in regular season, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round...
| align="left" | Beijing
Beijing Ducks
Beijing Jinyu Ducks or Beijing Ducks or Beijing Jinyu is a basketball team in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association, based in Beijing. They were formerly known as the Beijing Shougang Ducks or Beijing Shougang; the name change was likely due to a change of corporate sponsorship...
| 4 || 0 || 3.4 || .375 || .000 || .000 || .8 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 4 || 0 || 3.4 || .375 || .000 || .000 || .8 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .5
External links
- NBA.com profile
- ClutchFans.net Steve Francis Profile - Houston Rocket Fan Site