Steve Francis Explains Why He Did Not Want To Play For The Vancouver Grizzlies | Raptors Show

NBA great Steve Francis outlines some of the reasons why he never wanted to play in Vancouver after being drafted by the Grizzlies with the second overall pick in 1999.

[@allthingscdl4374]

His decision was immature but he was 22 at the time so it makes sense . The sad thing is he could’ve possibly saved the franchise from moving similar to how Vince Carter did for Toronto

[@christalball93_]

He made a big mistake

[@JWex-jy7sk]

Watched the Vancouver Grizzlies documentary “The Grizzlie Truth” and Francis gave an amazing interview in the documentary with everything that happened. Talked about how sorry he was and completely understood that Vancouver fans hated him for what he did. He straight up admitted he was just an immature 22 year old who didn’t know if his NBA career would be comfortable playing 3,000 miles away from family in whole new country

[@Bmac6867]

He made the right decision. You see later on when he went to the Knicks with Marbury it was a Total Disaster running 2 point guards....If he started with Bibby, he would have never became the player he was. Sometimes Team Draft players that don't Fit just so Another Team doesn't get them. Scouts knew he and Bibby weren't compatible.

[@oliverb6550]

SF was a crybaby Karen. Embarrassing draft day face expressions. 😂

[@xavierb9061]

Made smart move

[@Paul-wu7xd]

It was still such a weird draft pick, especially since the Grizzlies could've drafted Lamar Odom, he would've been a SF, which would've been a great addition to Bibby at the PG and Shareef at the PF and Big Country at the C.

[@JWex-jy7sk]

Watched the Vancouver Grizzlies documentary “The Grizzlie Truth” and Francis gave an amazing interview with everything that happened. In the moment he got drafted he was more upset he wasn’t going to go to the Chicago Bulls and be drafted #1 Talked about how was sorry he was and completely understood that Vancouver fans hated him for what he did. Was just an immature 22 year old who didn’t know if his NBA career would be comfortable playing 3,000 miles away from family in whole new country

[@KingOfMonsters2K]

The ironic part about this whole situation was that in 2009, when the Grizzlies were the only team that wanted him, the Grizzlies signed him and then waived him 2 days after he signed. Fun fact about him getting waived: It was on the on the 10th anniversary of when he forced a trade to Houston.

[@pkoster2k11]

Bad take bud. Different owner at that point and they're were already in Memphis for some time. Guaranteed there was no animosity with that move

[@paulmkz]

Francis is not forgotten. Dude is one of best PG ever played at University of MD and was a 3 time All star in the NBA. If your a 3 time NBA All star you had a really good career. Not many people who ever have played basketball can say they are a 3 time NBA All star.

[@jaydurant3048]

I truly believe the NBA will come back to Vancouver and Seattle!

[@wanderer34]

Seattle yea Vancouver nay

[@jaydurant3048]

@@wanderer34 no two markets deserve it more then those two. Quite frankly it’s not even close.

[@nonamewillbegiven7228]

​@@jaydurant3048no the NBA in Vancouver sucked

[@jaydurant3048]

@@nonamewillbegiven7228 you fr rn!? The NBA sucked for Vancouver, OFC. 101 wins in six years is beyond pathetic. However that’s got nothing to do with the fanbase and absolutely everything to do with the ownership and management of that franchise. The fans of that city got ripped off big time and would love nothing more then to see two deserving fanbases actually get a chance.

[@nonamewillbegiven7228]

@@jaydurant3048 well the low attendance speaks for itself

[@bubbakushii]

I miss that team

[@DGS2605]

You can hate this guy's decision all you want, but don't forget Kobe said no to the Hornets when they drafted him.

[@mrrcool77]

Kobe didn't stick his lip out/make a face when the Hornet's drafted, SF... Kobe didn't talk smack about Charlotte like SF talked about Vancouver when he got drafted lol

[@NevaSellmySoul]

​@@mrrcool77crazy thing is Kobe was 17 years old

[@Charles.psalms1]

Hornets said no to Kobe....

[@freakyfornash]

Well the Hornets had no intention of keeping Kobe. They drafted him strictly to make the deal with the Lakers for Vlade Divac. While the 76ers did not half bad with drafting A.I. first overall, it's them who should have taken Kobe first overall despite that though!

[@tayshaunprince-pc9xi]

Crazy enough the hornets just like the grizzlies were also on the verge of relocation around the Kobe draft, Shinns scandal and bad PR basically forced him to move to NO because the attendance was so bad despite being a game removed from the ECF sometime in the 00s

[@harlequin75]

I’m a Canadian who holds grudges LOL. Screw Steve Francis

[@garrettlods6537]

he literally had a racist encounter the moment he landed in vancouver...

[@mofishin2648]

His excuse was so lame, he wanted to play for the Bulls and wanted to be near his granny(from Maryland) but ended up playing in Houston .. lol Should just nut up and say he didn't want to live in Vancouver

[@thegoldrobber]

To say that he didnt want to go to Vancouver because Mike Bibby was the PG is bull crap. I lived in Vancouver at the time. He didnt want to come to Vancouver because it was Canada and at that time Vancouver was a small(ish) Canadian city - not an American city. He was young, immature at that time, but to say it was b/c of Bibby is not true. He was better than Bibby and could have easily eclipsed him as a starter.

[@samslick9000]

He didn't want to live in Vancouver, like all the Grizzly players. One of them said living in Vancouver was like living in Alaska. Another said he couldn't get the right dog food for his dogs. All of them complained about the rain and not being able to get ESPN. The Grizzlies had the same problem the Raptors still have, players don't want to play in Canada. Francis would have played for Seattle if they had drafted him

[@9614cp]

Why don't you listen to some takes from current Raptor players who love it in Toronto, instead of spreading your stupid narratives from the 90's. Toronto is one of the best cities in the world and the best city in Canada, there is no other city in Canada that is comparable when it comes to diversity, entertainment and the general vibe.

[@K81Patel]

Thankfully, it's not so much of a problem for

[@samslick9000]

@@9614cp Kawhi was offered the world to keep playing with the Raptors. Kawhi vamoosed

[@9614cp]

@@samslick9000 He would have left any team in the nba to play in LA. Your narrative doesn't exist dummy. Go outside every once in a while.

[@samslick9000]

@@9614cp No other superstars voluntarily went to the Raptors. No super teams form in Toronto. Any stars the Raptors develop leave as as soon as they can

[@ironsports]

Made it clear Pre Draft that he didn't want to go there. Gave an actual Basketball Reason why. Stu still took him and traded for 75 cents on the dollar (at best).... I don't blame him

[@paulmkz]

Eli manning said no to the chargers. Ppl have done draft snubs before

[@willc5723]

Ironically another number two pick didn't want to play for Canada this time being Kenny Anderson who didn't want to play for the Toronto raptors and by coincidence it was also in 99 when it happened

[@saltbae865]

He may have been a bigger star if he stayed and helped grow the game in western Canada. He could have been VC who is now known as the Godfather of Canadian basketball.

[@bubbadogproductions7403]

He is quoted as saying, I am not going to COLD ASS CANADA. Obviously never looked at a map or did any looking into who drafted him. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, and has the same weather as Seattle. As far as being away from family as he claimed, he stated he wanted to be close to Maryland so he went to Houston to play. Cause that's close.

[@real_r.y.a.n]

He wanted to be the guy, I totally get it

[@teekay4389]

He is absolutely right because the team was guard heavy and he would have average 12 min a game. They ruined Harold Miner career the same way because miami had bimbo coles Dan Marjle Steve Smith Tim Hardaway they were guard heavy and he would force things and try hard to be seen but avg 11 to 12 min a game.

[@dereklarner6298]

No dog food and no espn access in Vancouver at the time…on the other hand, there would be arguably comparatively less racism to deal with than in the US, definitely less threat of gun violence, and a chance to be a historic groundbreaker for a sports franchise. He made a bad choice.

[@780hoops]

Should've drafted odom he wanted to get drafted by grizzlies

[@oliverb6550]

Angry fans say: Steve Francis was a crybaby Karen. Draft day face expressions was embarrassing. He didn’t want to play for Vancouver because he didn’t want to live in Canada. Facts. NBA opportunity in a beautiful city. Grow up SF yuh crybaby whiner.

[@Charles.psalms1]

Bulls should of took Francis.... He was box office and no disrespect to Brand but Francis would of been the best choice!

[@christalball93_]

He's a sellout. Disapointing career. He made a mistake not going to Van. Could have been face of team and saved franchise and made legacy. Now he is forgotten. Alcohol problems after coach benched him in Houston

[@andyheath5244]

Mike Bibby and Steve Francis together makes no sense

[@christalball93_]

@Andy Heath that's true Bibby was awesome

[@gettingpantygrammy1]

@christalball93 That’s a crock of sht. Sellout? He had an exceptional career, made a great living for himself, dealt with his demons and made a recovery. Your comment is judgmental, short sided, and cowardly. I don’t doubt you’re the type to judge and denigrate others without the guts to say it to those you insult remotely. Look at yourself, your actions, and honestly measure your life against the life he’s made from the arduous circumstances he’s overcome. Level the same scrutiny and insult at yourself. It takes nothing to criticize and insult without accountability. He’s no sellout. No disappointment either. You’re dead to rights wrong.

[@j-short5431]

Dribbled to much, inefficient ISO scorer. Karma came for his knee too

[@drewdowns7128]

baron davis was selected right after him, shoulda drafted anyone but him...

[@KWCline91]

If Steve Francis had been born in California or Washington, he would’ve been okay with playing for Vancouver. But because of the distance from Maryland, it was so foreign to him. Don’t forget, he spent one season at a Texas junior college and that was a long distance. But this was further. Plus, if anything, the Grizzlies are at fault. Why would you draft him when you already had a point guard in Bibby? Was Bibby going to be traded? What was Steve’s role? I don’t think they ever gave him a honest answer to that question.

[@edwardbliss8931]

What BS

[@kuanyen36]

What a bunch of BS

[@bradleyrosenberg8201]

This black man is the problem with sports….he should be on a banned list

[@jaydurant3048]

You’re a problem!

[@atomic5586]

Ayo what

[@justintremblay7203]

Why bring his race into it?

[@brientaylorcohen]

@@justintremblay7203 Exactly. What race is Eli Manning? Eric Lindros? John Elway? FOH with that BS.

[@saltbae865]

This is not about race... many white players do the same... Eric Lindros single handedly got Nordiques moved and handed Colorado their first cup.