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Steve Francis was a three-time NBA All-Star who averaged 18.1 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.6 rebounds over nine seasons. He won co-Rookie of the Year in 2000 with the Houston Rockets. Francis now owns the Houston Push in The Basketball League and focuses on youth basketball through his foundation.
Steve Francis burst onto the NBA scene in 1999 as one of the most athletic point guards the league had seen. Drafted second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies and immediately traded to Houston, Francis earned the nickname “Stevie Franchise” for his explosive playing style and franchise player potential.
He played nine seasons for the Rockets, Knicks, and Magic, averaging 18.1 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in 576 regular-season games. Francis made three consecutive All-Star teams from 2002 to 2004, representing the peak of a career that promised even more before injuries derailed his trajectory.
The Maryland native stood 6’3″ and weighed 210 pounds. His combination of speed, vertical leap, and ball-handling made him one of the most exciting guards in the early 2000s NBA.
Francis grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland, under difficult circumstances. After his mother died of cancer in 1995, his grandmother became a parent figure to him. He stopped playing basketball for several years following her death.
Francis attended six different high schools and played in only two high school basketball games total. After earning his GED, he attended San Jacinto College and Allegany College of Maryland before transferring to the University of Maryland for his junior season.
At Maryland, Francis made an immediate impact. He finished the season averaging 17 points per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 2.8 steals per game. The Terrapins went 28-6 and reached the Sweet 16. Francis earned consensus second-team All-American honors and was named to the All-ACC first team.
Despite saying he was 99% sure he’d return for his senior year, Francis declared for the 1999 NBA Draft.
Francis was selected second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies but refused to play for them. He was traded before the 1999-2000 season began to the Houston Rockets in a three-team, 11-player deal that was the largest trade in NBA history at the time.
His rookie season validated the Rockets’ investment. Francis shared Rookie of the Year honors with Elton Brand and finished second to Vince Carter in the Slam Dunk Contest. His athletic dunks and crossover dribble quickly made him a fan favorite.
Francis hit his stride from 2002 to 2004. He was chosen by fans to start the 2002 NBA All-Star Game and made the team again in 2003 and 2004. During the 2002-03 season, Francis scored a career-high 44 points in a nationally televised home win against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 17, 2003.
The 2002 NBA Draft brought Yao Ming to Houston, and the Francis-Yao partnership generated excitement. Both were selected as 2003 All-Star Game starters. However, the Rockets struggled to build a winning team around them, missing the playoffs in 2003 despite the talent.
The arrival of coach Jeff Van Gundy in 2003 changed Francis’s trajectory. Van Gundy wanted to center the offense around Yao Ming, and Francis’s numbers declined during the 2003-04 season. The Rockets finally made the playoffs in 2004—Francis’s only postseason appearance—but lost to the Lakers in five games despite his averages of 19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in the series.
During Francis’s first tenure in Houston, he averaged 19.3 points, 6.4 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.63 steals in 374 games.
The Rockets traded Francis and his close friend Cuttino Mobley to Orlando for Tracy McGrady in 2004. Initially unhappy with the move, Francis adapted and thrived. He averaged 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in his first Magic season, hitting several game-winners early in the year.
The Magic started strong in 2004-05, but when Mobley was traded mid-season, Francis grew disgruntled. The team slumped and missed the playoffs. By January 2006, Francis was suspended for two games for conduct detrimental to the team.
Francis was traded to the New York Knicks in February 2006. He wore jersey #1 with the Knicks, as his usual #3 was already assigned to Stephon Marbury. Knee tendinitis limited his effectiveness, and his scoring average dropped to 11.3 points per game.
The Knicks traded him to Portland in 2007, but the Trail Blazers bought out his contract for $30 million, making him a free agent. Despite interest from Miami, Dallas, Houston, and the Clippers, Francis signed with the Rockets for two years at $6 million.
His second Houston stint was disastrous. He averaged just 5.5 points and 3 assists in 10 games before undergoing season-ending surgery for a quadriceps tendon injury. After one more brief stint with the Memphis Grizzlies (who waived him without him playing a game), Francis’s NBA career was over at 31 years old.
He briefly played for the Beijing Ducks in China in 2010, averaging 0.5 points over four games before returning to the United States.
Francis was defined by his athleticism. His vertical leap and first-step quickness allowed him to blow past defenders and finish at the rim with authority. He possessed a deadly crossover dribble that set up driving lanes and created space for his mid-range jumper.
At 6’3″, Francis played bigger than his size. His rebounding numbers (5.6 per game for his career) were impressive for a point guard. He had good court vision and averaged six assists per game, though he was more scorer than a traditional playmaker.
The early 2000s featured explosive guards like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, and Jason Richardson, but Francis held his own in this group. His style embodied the transition from traditional point guards to the athletic, scoring-first guards who would dominate the next decade.
Francis’s biggest limitation was his outside shooting. He never became a consistent three-point threat, which became more problematic as the league evolved. His reliance on athleticism also made him vulnerable once injuries began accumulating.
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Over the course of his NBA career, Steve Francis earned $103 million in salary.
Multiple factors ended Francis’s career prematurely. Knee injuries plagued his later years, robbing him of the explosiveness that defined his game. Francis has suffered from Ménière’s disease, which causes episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, and aural fullness. This condition affected him during his peak years and contributed to missed games.
After retirement, Francis struggled with personal issues. Following his playing days, he struggled with addiction and found himself in legal trouble. In 2016, he was arrested for DUI and faced burglary charges in Florida. He received a conditional discharge and community service in 2017.
Francis has been open about his struggles. In a 2018 Players’ Tribune article, he discussed how losing basketball and his stepfather (who committed suicide) sent him into a dark period. He admitted to drinking heavily but pushed back against rumors about crack cocaine use.
Steve Francis is believed to have a net worth of about $40 million. He married Shelby Francis in 2006, but the couple divorced in 2016. They have two children together.
Francis has returned to basketball through ownership and community work. In December 2020, Francis was awarded the 33rd market in The Basketball League, creating the Houston Push. The minor league team allows Francis to mentor young players pursuing professional careers.
He operates the Steve Francis Foundation, which focuses on youth development in Houston. Francis stated the foundation’s community endeavors in Houston aim to have a significant impact on the city’s youth.
Francis sold his longtime Houston home in June 2024 after initially listing it in 2020 for $5.6 million. He purchased a new mansion in Houston for just under $5 million in January 2020.
Now 47 years old, Francis has found stability through his business ventures and foundation work. He remains connected to Houston, the city where he built his NBA legacy.
Francis represents the ultimate “what if” story. His first four seasons showed a player capable of becoming an elite point guard. Three straight All-Star selections and consistent 20-point seasons suggested a long career at the top.
But injuries and coaching conflicts shortened his prime. By 27, his effectiveness had diminished. By 31, his career was over.
In the Houston Rockets’ history, Francis holds a significant place. He bridged the post-Hakeem Olajuwon era with the Yao Ming era. His jersey #23 was honored by Maryland (though not retired) in 2002, recognizing his impact during his single college season.
Francis influenced a generation of young guards who prioritized athleticism and scoring. His crossover and driving ability became templates for guards who followed. While he never won a championship or made an All-NBA team, his peak years showcased one of the most exciting players of the early 2000s.
For Rockets fans, Francis remains beloved despite his relatively short tenure. His nickname “Stevie Franchise” captured both his potential and the organization’s faith in him as a cornerstone player.
The tragedy of Francis’s career is that the nickname almost came true. For three seasons, he was everything Houston needed. Circumstances—injuries, coaching changes, team building failures—prevented the full realization of that promise. But for those who watched him at his peak, the memories of his speed, power, and fearlessness remain.
