Steve Francis: This Houston Rockets Highflyer BEAT THE ODDS on his way to NBA STARDOM | FPP

Steve Francis had all the odds stacked against him, he grew up in poverty without a father and then lost his mother at 18 years old, he bounced around high schools throughout his teens and only played in two high school games in his life, but luckily he was spotted in an AAU tournament, and an offer to play for San Jacinto Community College would change his life. He would spend a year there before moving onto Allegany College of Maryland before eventually finding himself at the University of Maryland, playing for the terrapins. He put together a great Junior season and cemented his name in the conversation for #1 pick in the 1999 NBA draft. Elton Brand would eventually get that honour, but Francis was selected #2 by the Vancouver Grizzlies; but he refused to play there for a couple of reasons and was eventually traded to the Houston Rockets who were at the end of their Hakeem Olajuwon era. In Houston he would team with shooting guard Cuttino Mobley and eventually Yao Ming and helped lead Houston to their first playoff appearance in 5 years in 2004. But then after the season, he would be traded to Orlando for Tracy McGrady. His stint in Orlando would be brief, but during that time he played with another young superstar in Dwight Howard and also was part of a one year duo with Grant Hill. Mobley had followed him to Orlando, but once he was traded, Francis was upset and his attitude quickly declined as he clashed with head coach Brian Hill until he would be traded to the New York Knicks in 2006. He would again clash with his coach, this time it would be Larry Brown, yet he would become close with Knicks star guard Stephon Marbury. Unfortunately injuries and and a lack of opportunity would define Francis’ time in New York and him and Marbury were not able to find any success. He would be a free agent after the 2007 season and return to Houston, but after a knee injury ended his season prematurely he never appeared on an NBA court again. But during his career, Stevie Franchise was one of the most exciting and athletic guards the league had ever seen and his streetball handles wowed fans for years. He struggled with efficiency and turnovers, but appeal he brought and his constant threat to make a highlight play was hard to resist as he would become one of the league’s most popular players during his prime, and when you consider all the obstacles he had to get through to make it to the league, you can’t help but root for Steve Francis.
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[@Zamppa86]

Steve Francis was my favourite poing guard of the early 00s. He could do it all be it a flashy dunk, a flashy assist, a deep three or a highlight dribble. Sure his game probably wasn't something that brought up too many wins but man was he fun to watch. He did not want to move to Vancouver because that would have taken him far away from the only family he had left, his grandmother. He never had a father and he had also lost his mother so that was very understandable. If I remember correctly he had told to the Grizzlies not to draft him but they did it anyway.

[@Opium64]

Team was trash and was getting better before the mcgrady trade and the trade kinda proves it they were headed to the wins the 51 wins before tmac trade if u look and tmac

[@mongoslade277]

People in the military with a single guardian are sent to other countries. Continents even. Vancouver is 2 ½ hours from Seattle. He didnt like the taxes up there + Bibby was there. If the Lakers drafted him he wouldn't have said LA is too far. Both are 5 hour flights

[@ShaiCoke]

was my first favorite player, the reason i started watching

[@jtelo7102]

As a rockets fan thank you so much for doing steve francis dude was one of the most explosive pgs to ever come in the league!!!

[@elmascavidal1797]

Damn I am officially old … remember that 2000’ slam dunk contest .. was different… Steve franchise was a beast

[@DABEATBAKERZ]

I worked for Steve when he used to own a studio on Chimney Rock and he was solid guy..

[@justineebourgeois3420]

Steve Francis, the Original D-Rose/Westbrook Prototype 😤

[@AlbertPullhoez]

Rockets should've gave him and Yao more time together

[@edwardfisher9930]

The worst thing to happen to Steve Francis was Jeff Van gundy... he slowed the pace down and made yao the focal point on offense... Rudy T gave Steve Free reign and allowed him to hoop...

[@facts187-tb7ms]

Thank you everyone thought it was Steve Francis fault no van gundy was some shyt

[@handsomeX]

Facts 💯🎯

[@OneDrewThree]

Growing up in MD not too far from where Steve grew up,I had went to the same church as his nephew and he'd always tell me and the other kids in the church how Steve Francis was his uncle and none of us believed him until he showed up at a church picnic one summer lmao (this had to have been around 02-03,right in his prime Houston years)

[@mikexcarter594]

BEING FROM BMORE I HAD FRONT ROW SEAT SO TO SPEAK IN SEEING STEVIE FRANCHISE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MD AND FOLLOWING HIS CAREER….DUDE WAS SPECIAL..GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET HIM AT A SYMPOSIUM AT MY JOB…PRETTY COOL DUDE…

[@87alock]

Big fan of Stevie Franchise. I had his Rockets jersey when I was a kid.

[@latrelle611]

For someone who is from Houston I grew up watching the Steve Francis and Cutino Mobley era rockets and love this video

[@JamesonScalia]

He was on the cover of 2K2002 which was my favorite NBA game in that era. I loved his style and abilities. Great video.

[@billblaski9523]

2K2? Im pretty sure that was Iverson. Francis was on the cover of NBA Live 2002

[@GodSon91]

Correct live

[@Charlesmclark2]

Stevie franchise ain't never been another player like him my favorite

[@BayPawLobeezy_World]

My nigga dont get the credit. He was one of my favorite players and street ballers too. He use to go crazy at Rucker Park.

[@daveruegg6769]

Damn he had Some insane career rebound numbers and all at arnd 6'2, 180

[@TheChosenMoose01]

steve is my favorite player of all time. Thank you for this video

[@eugenedantzler4485]

If he didn't have those injuries.... Man....... He would have been a consistent top 10 player

[@MikeDaProblem]

This was dope bro im glad i came across your channel

[@LiquidOcelotGamer]

I like Steve his game was like Westbrook high flyer high energy I wanna ask if you could do a video on Stat ( Amar’e Stoudmire) one of my favorite players to watch a dunking machine but he had so many injuries on his knees he had all star level of talent

[@bryanbarthlow3961]

Never forgotten.

[@JXsneakerhead]

So glad you showed love to Franchise! He was saucy AF! Can you do a clip on Bonzi Wells? Your fans would appreciate that 💯

[@DaMixWizard]

Steve Francis played in the wrong decade. If he played in today's NBA, he'd easily average 28-32ppg 8-10ast

[@Studentofthegame3]

Y’all say this about everyone lmaooo

[@DaMixWizard]

@yaboi8665 today's NBA everyone is spread out, even the center. Everyone is standing by the 3-point line, which will give room for that guard with handles to do his thing. Then when he drives to the hole for a layup or dunk, he doesn't have a big center like Shaq waiting for him because he'll be out there standing by the 3-point line. That's why people say this about guards from the 90s and 00s. They would shine in today's NBA

[@Mr.PR2000]

@@Studentofthegame3I mean he aint lying tho …

[@Studentofthegame3]

@@DaMixWizard I’m not Tryna discredit Francis cause he was one of my favorite players growing up but every video this dude drop on a player someone says they can avg 30 in the league rn but Steve only shot 42% from the field. He would benefit from spacing and be more efficient but there’s simply better scorers than him on a lot of teams rn and they don’t even avg 30. He could avg 26 tops in my humble opinion

[@Studentofthegame3]

@@Mr.PR2000 only 6 players avg 30 last year has Steve Francis ever been a top 5 scorer while he was in the league?

[@isiahbraun8704]

Francis got dat Westbrook engine

[@facts187-tb7ms]

You mean Westbrook got that Francis motor

[@joaogabrielgatto8642]

PLEAAAASE do Brevin Knight. I know he was not a star but it intrigues me how nobody talks about him. He was a great defender for his size and could distribute the rock very well. The only bad thing was he didn’t had a nice outside shot off the drible

[@Paul-wu7xd]

Yeah he was a very solid PG. The only issue was he couldn't make a jump shot if his life depend on it. I always wondered why he just never devoted an off-season to improving his shooting, other players have done that throughout their careers, even James has improved his shot from earlier in his career.

[@joaogabrielgatto8642]

@@Paul-wu7xd absolutely true man. He stayed the same for all his career. Never above.

[@blve3759]

FPP day is another happy day

[@arthurman6129]

As a Rockets fan, Steve Francis was very frustrating to watch. He had the handles, strength, insane athleticism, and a decent pull-up jumper from mid range. But he has the worst basketball IQ in terms of knowing what’s the most efficient thing to do at what time. He’d often pass up wide open shots and start dribbling until the defense catches on, and end up taking low percentage contested shots. His handles are impressive but it doesn’t get him anywhere. His athleticism is elite but he doesn’t attack the basket enough or in efficient ways. He basically has all of Westbrook’s bad qualities but very little of his strengths. Even without injuries, Steve Francis would still mostly just be a stat padder who looks amazing in highlights but contribute little to team success.

[@Thought.You.Had.A.Friend_74]

Damn... Basically why he deserved an episode! Fitting assessment 🧐🤔🧑🏽‍🏫🔮.

[@Opium64]

Don’t think he cared as much as Westbrook reason why he didn’t play till after highschool which part of the reason lack of iq because it was raw talent that didn’t start till 19 yrs old I don’t even think Westbrook would made the pros at that point

[@Charlesmclark2]

Again id draft Francis over westbook...west brook even played for the rockets his stats SUXED no rings no stats all hype #westbrookbeentrash

[@arthurman6129]

@@Charlesmclark2 I’m not a fan of Westbrook at all but Steve Francis only played a whopping 5 playoff games in his career. And Francis was relatively healthy until he was around 29 years old. I do think Westbrook was an overrated stat padder but he was still a way better player than Francis.

[@mongoslade277]

​@@arthurman6129Francis didn't play high school ball and still had a better jumper than Westbrook. If KD had a choice been Westbrook & Francis I think he'd take Steve Francis

[@jaymonee317]

Appreciate you dropping consistent GREAT content all summer! 💯

[@ryleerichter804]

“We jus wanna be number 1 like Steve Francis” Joyner Lucas

[@ShadowDragonGT]

The franchise is the reason I started to watch and play baseball and had the rockets starter jacket from Walmart and the nba should bring those jackets back

[@yungholsch343]

Feels like you always drop your new vids as soon as I go on my lunch break lol love it

[@andrewroberts4071]

NBA live 2003 I was 9 years old. The TOUGHEST group of PGs in league history. Bless them all for their passion and entertainment

[@nader91]

not many nba players make it on covers of video games... stevie franchise eventually did for nba live 2002. dude was a machine in real life as well as on the virtual hardwood

[@Igoruhandchu]

March madness 2000 cover as well.

[@robpshow2234]

Thanks so much for sharing this video Big Rockets fan🚀🚀🚀

[@joaogabrielgatto8642]

man I love your videos. You should have a million subs AT LEAST

[@terrenceliburd8655]

Stevie Wonder was up on here cookin Kobe ! Lol

[@tazbahahisrael3190]

Cooked him EVERY TIME he played against him AND those games were some of Kobe’s lowest scoring games. Francis had over 30 points every time Kobe guarded him and Kobe had around 12 points.

[@DRV404]

Been catching these spr late lately. But another great mention, the Rockets were a team I followed alot during those years so when I saw him from the beginning I instantly became a fan and also felt pretty good about Hou moving forward from the vets. He was must watch tv at his best.

[@johnvaughan8239]

I loved Stevie Franchise at Maryland and on to his time in Houston. I always wondered what happened to him, thanks for the vid!

[@gugurupurasudaikirai7620]

Good choice. Another high flyer from a little bit longer ago would be David Thompson. Still a hall of famer but would have easily been at least top 20 of all time and not mostly forgotten today if it wasn't for his nose candy problem

[@mongoslade277]

The Skywalker. David Thompson name is out there bc he was Jordan's favorite player

[@nkelly]

One of my favorite players!!!

[@lashgoshotwheels1127]

Thank you

[@ciberavellaneda9881]

Thank you for doing one of Stevie, he was one of my favourites back them. Maybe in a future, you could do one of Keith Van Horn.

[@_WESTSIDE_]

One of my fave players of all time!!

[@oaklandwarriors9129]

I was hoping for this one

[@official_bren1098]

This my favorite one 🔥

[@CBOE2012]

I was 8 his rookie year.abd loved.him we love him down here but that tmac trade DEFINITELY made sense. Now.tmac time in Houston that deserves a whole different story

[@Opium64]

Crazy thing at worst Houston would had the same result playoff Winning wise with Francis

[@shehateme9955]

Much love to Wink. Hometown legend

[@chi86is2slick]

Great video Steve Francis was great

[@Opium64]

People say he didn’t win but his teams weren’t never good and once they were good his last season in Houston he was traded and from the record the season before they we’re already headed to 51 wins they won 45 before mcgrady getting better year by year

[@DeBeard]

He left to me many sweet memories while i was at my twenty something❤, Thx so much stevie franchise.

[@royalace2271]

Based purely on basketball skills, athleticism, explosiveness, and overall talent, Francis was equally, possibly superior, to D. Rose and Westbrook. But what held Francis back from reaching similar heights to Russ and Rose was his attitude and immaturity. His emotions often times prevented him from locking in, and was predisposed to undisciplined, flashy street ball style of play.

[@Magicstockton]

No father figure

[@GHOST91141]

Became a Steve Francis fan back when he played at Maryland

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

If Francis would have let down his ego and became comfortable as a 2nd or 3rd option on some teams, he could have had way more success and maybe some playoff wins. Too many turnovers to be the #1 guy and hope to succeed. That being said, he was fun to watch and at times could take over a game.

[@jrwilliams4333]

Nice video bro . Franchise was on the cover of nba live too

[@Iamrxch3]

Westbrook prototype

[@princeamu]

Cool doc

[@3serio]

The Van Gundy brothers and Larry Brown always clash with their players that don’t blindly follow whatever they say. At least Brown makes up for it by being a good coach. At least until he decides he doesn’t like you and is going to abuse his position to be petty

[@MoeJaxon]

Great vid. One of my favorite players. Dude has a lot of Infair criticism

[@BLGClipsx]

Stevie Franchise the goat 🐐

[@rickjamesjr6651]

Steve franchise 🫡

[@DC4Life77]

I remember when the Rockets had Walt Williams, Moochie Norris , and Francis. All repping DC, I stayed using the Rockets on Live.

[@_WESTSIDE_]

Cuttino Mobley was 🔥🔥 too

[@bryanb30]

4:18 Hey I remember that game! One’s Sibling had a great view from the bench! 😂 Very fun 🤩 Maryland team to watch! 4:18 Spins past (if memory serves) Vonteego Cummings and Ricardo Greer for acrobatic finish against Attila Cosby 4:23 Reverse layup against Chris Seabrooks - Isaac Hawkins left watching.

[@lososmith9087]

Dennis Smith Jr reminds me of Francis

[@kincamell]

Heavy

[@LAR-hs2qt]

Another one of my favorite players, who gave Kobe and Shaq all that smoke. Van Gundy was always coming in messing up stuff.

[@amadousy7543]

Stephon Marbury next!

[@bjnt92281]

One of my favorite players to watch in college basketball. I was excited when my Rockets traded for him. He should have been what Russell Westbrook has been.

[@Charlesmclark2]

He was better than west brook.both have no rings and one NBA cover

[@mob7640]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Rezzylite]

Was a huge Stevie Franchise fan as a kid. I thought Dennis Smith Jr was going to be the second coming of Francis lol 😬

[@official_bren1098]

U should do Horace grant next

[@BuzzBoyzTv]

Do Cuttino Mobley too …

[@chriswahl4139]

for a guy with the franchise nickname, he only played in one winning playoff game

[@noelywu2027]

1)Coach Rudy.T replaced by JVG 2)Orlando traded Mobley away when team chemistry was working out well Those two incidents completely ruined his career. Very unlucky and unfortunate otherwise he would've been so much more successful. He was like 80% Iverson and 80% Carter combined into one body... a nightmare for opponent point guard to defend him one on one.

[@jasonic-ks2tm]

You keep mentioning Jimmy Jackson! It's now his time

[@Abyfresh523gmail]

Go Terps!!!!!!!!!

[@oddballskull1941]

SCOTT SKILES

[@aintnohalfsteffen]

10:31, 10:50 bustin Kobe's ass

[@yl6442]

Never knew he , Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter all played together

[@MannyMensah94]

Stevie Franchise🏀🏀🏀

[@Dangic23]

Looks like Stern made sure his career was forcefully shortened. Because of him demanding a trade on draft day. Nobody got away with these type of things under the old NBA regime

[@bryanb30]

0:49 Having a tough life is not an excuse! Perhaps it’s a factor to be considered certainly. Every resource is available to many yet routinely they make other choices.

[@keliangchan]

if he wasn't ruined by drugs, Yao would have invited him to join the CBA to make some quick money just like T-Mac did b4 he really retired.

[@c.antoniojohnson7114]

Joe Barry Carroll would be a good one,also Kiki Vandiwege(wrong spelling)

[@jaharicoleman6945]

THE FRANCHISE

[@glennhall7857]

Do a Yao Ming

[@jaycarter646]

Steeeevieeeeee

[@Rysofly]

He could've been the GOAT at point guard.

[@handsomeblackman255]

He's shakin' Kobe.

[@Brsrafal]

Lakers always get their wins by couple points last min

[@julienf9039]

It's crazy how he wound up on the Grizzlies anyway

[@mongoslade277]

That is funny but he never played for them. He retired. Never wanted to leave Houston

[@humbledjjerry1706]

They know how to draft and find talent but not keep them and win a chip! Who am I talking about? Knicks Houston Orlando Philly All the above 😅😅😅😅

[@CycloriaMcCray]

When you going to do football and baseball players

[@J.S.R.9.]

I feel like every star in the early-mid 2000’s didn’t get along with coaches lol

[@bdww4072]

Whats an "open court offense"? Never heard of that term.

[@usmankenchi908]

Brian Grant

[@vincewilson8969]

If he was on the east coast he could’ve been a hall of famer. West was too stacked

[@charismatic9904]

His career was over the moment they split him and mobley up. He said it himself.

[@fivefiveniner1537]

🗣GOTTA DO A CHUCK PERSON BIO! 💯 🔫

[@ForgottenPlayerProfiles]

Check out the channel, I did one on him a few months ago

[@JamesJohnson-ip2by]

He would have had a better chance in Orlando if they didn't trade Mobley probably in Vancouver as well if it wasn't for that airport incident,grizzlies probably would have stayed in Vancouver,Canada is a nice country but too expensive but that's why i moved back although its expensive but it not a free for almost all like America is!

[@tazbahahisrael3190]

My favorite all time basketball player, ever. I loved how he played. Getting paid millions, players should do flashy stuff like he did. Van Gundy, was a douche bag for not him do what he did.