Throwback Steve Francis aka The Reason 31pts vs Rafer Alston aka Skip 2 My Lou 21pts Highlights @EBC

[@DreChampProductions]

His nickname is The Reason because the EBC already had a player named The Franchise (RIP John Strickland, go watch The Blackout) way before Steve ever came to the EBC. Just like when Kobe came up there they gave him the name Lord of the Rings because he just won his third ring. You went to Rucker to get your name, your name before you get there doesn't matter.

[@capob1678]

Steve Francis is a punk . Says Vancouver.

[@KaoMinerva]

BIG FACTS. I grew up watching this kind of stuff and these players are immortalized in history. Kobe is my favorite player also. RIP Escalade

[@creydadj]

You also go to the Rucker to get your street cred

[@MoneyOverFame]

RIP John Strickland AKA Big Strick AKA The Franchise, AKA The Re-ANIMATOR, AKA Baby Panda .

[@jumpman3210]

The Chosen One?

[@drolatin727]

Stevie Franchise was one of the most underrated PG ever! He was NICE!

[@ibromussolini9255]

He wasn't underrated when he played. Mfs just forgot. He was on top the world

[@carlosacosta4382]

The amount of 3XL white tees in the crowd is staggering 😂😂

[@trecotton4224]

😂😂😂

[@Nywraper]

😂 the good old days

[@mitchell7309]

5 for $20 at Footlocker my G

[@AaronDriver-t4z]

yeah sorry no skinny girl jeans back in them days

[@55cleon]

This Is The Pre "Hair Coloring, Nutt Hugging Pants And Tattoo" Era 🤷🏿‍♂️.

[@VaughnMcGregor]

A lot of people forgot how nice "The Franchise" was. He came and did what he was supposed to do at The Rucker. Skip made it to the NBA. Steve Francis was a perennial All-star in the league during his day. Big difference !

[@Patawon]

3x all star = perennial? He was nice though.

[@joshuawoodard6998]

@@Patawon By definition, yes. 3 consecutive all-stars starting next to Kobe. Politics/trades and injuries did his career in though.

[@solowarrior1145]

Skip to my Lou ain’t no slouch! He’s a legit NBA starting PG. Steve Francis was just Elite! It’s the confidence that he has that just exudes from his effortless street ball game style

[@williamhaygood7996]

I just seen the video lol but hell yea people forget he played in a NBA Finals with the Magic!!!

[@blackout2430]

@@williamhaygood7996 he wasn’t in that finals team but still a great player

[@ricosuavepr1207]

​@blackout2430 Yes, he was the PG in '09 Finals before they made the misake in bringing Nelson back.

[@HEAT4YAFEAT]

False. ​@@ricosuavepr1207

[@allygante3713]

Steve Francis put on a show

[@MR.__G]

Francis was way ahead of his time. Imagine him now in this guard oriented league with high pick n roll usage

[@DreChampProductions]

R.I.P Escalade

[@julianoutlaw876]

Trill Spill

[@KaoMinerva]

Facts

[@gabrielrizo3116]

@@KaoMinerva bruh I didn't know. But R.I.P to him.

[@hannibaldme5985]

R.I.P to my dude Troy Escalade Jackson a true gentleman and class act. I'm proud to have bestowed him his nickname. Thank you Mrs Jackson🙏🙏 for gifting us with his presence 💯🏀💙

[@lifewithplayboy8682]

People act like Steve Francis wasn't that dude had the handles, jumper , playmaker, would dunk on anyone and was a supremely talented showstopper

[@mgeezy37]

Steve Francis was a showman , 3X All-Star in the NBA 9 year career . He seems to be doing much better now , saw an interview he did a few years back he looks healthy .

[@TheNazeem7]

Not healthy but definitely better...

[@dlife7427]

@@TheNazeem7 why what happen with Steve Francis?

[@funkyworm6517]

@@dlife7427 Alcohol...

[@marvelousmarc863]

Man I would have loved to see Francis in this era. He had such a confidence to his game. He made it look effortless out there. And you can tell his game was honed in streetball. So he felt right at home out there. Miss these days!

[@buddyboy9019]

This is what NY needs more of in 2022 and beyond..

[@terryjones662]

People forget what Steve Francis really was and how he was a Legend in the DC area and had to go to JC before going to Maryland... 💯💯💯🤷🏾‍♂️

[@maryenglish472]

Stevie could bring it. Used to ball with him in Maryland's gym. Son was no joke!

[@dlife7427]

His handles were amazing.

[@Volodymyr.83]

🙏

[@cookiescreme9927]

Aht Aht tell about Steve not hooping in high school frfr due to him transferring and issues with his grades on top of his mom dying while he was in high school thanks Steve 🙏🏾

[@nnjvhvhhgc5213]

Yessir! DC had straight ballers back in the 80s all the way up to the late 90s!

[@dotprince83]

Shooting all ft's off glass is cold

[@80sfreak42]

I bank all my shots...been doing it since 2011....I'm the king of all angles...I just wish I did it when I was younger....sucks...cause the bank is open all day...no one uses it...

[@Skedoosh99]

@@80sfreak42 lost art. I'm going to teach it to my youngest daughter. The open bank will live on

[@chrisjones720]

That EBC DVD was so fire back in the day when I was a teenager, when KOBE came to the Rucker and they called him The Lord of the Rings . It was different man I miss these times

[@quemgg]

This shyt so old! Brings back so many memories, me being a “80s baby”, And1 and NAB JAM. Luv this!

[@PLAY2SCORE88]

Stevie franchise my fav player as a kid loved him at Maryland and with Houston I always admired his game sheesh time has gone so fast!!!

[@dorriantaylor1238]

Anybody notice Steve Francis shot all is free throws off the backboard? That’s crazy

[@kamabokogonpachiro6099]

I think just because the rim was bent he had to bank it

[@T_TYME]

Steve shot every freethrow off da backboard.....I remember this game🔥

[@JohnDoe113]

The crowd, the energy, and the commentating...can't replicate that.

[@HotGritz910]

Those behind the back crossover is next level ish! Look fly too

[@mrdumpson1710]

Steve Francis killed Skip To My Lou this game and Future killed Headache 💯

[@smhatnation11]

Aspirin was defeated by tylenol

[@frayedends7291]

SF has a few inches on Skip....

[@chrisisslick]

@@frayedends7291 only 1. Steve was just better.

[@Wyndamn]

Rafer Alston is a legend.

[@localcelebrity2972]

I never seen this footage until now. Absolutely loved it! Franchise is one of my all time favorite players. It was an absolute joy to see this. I miss Wink or Steve-O!😂😢

[@petervang8127]

Steve Francis was the best player in the world that year

[@yezzerskii3166]

Nah what! This is vintage 🔥🔥🔥 Steve Francis was a beast!!!

[@Kstretch271]

Steve Francis is nasty. Skip to my Lou. Was scared to death to guard him. On my soul. Stevie Franchise is super nasty. Word to life. Word to. Word to God.

[@theeverydayillusion7790]

Word to mother?

[@baldwinserrantshot365]

@@theeverydayillusion7790 Word to your mother's uncle.

[@dtho9212]

Omm

[@Kingqubaent]

Word is bond!

[@noodlereese4514]

Say word

[@eazythedon54st]

The good ole days!!!!😎

[@benjaminddennis]

Stevie Franchise always had that handle! He is totally disrespected by not being mentioned as some of the best handles in the league.

[@healthyman5826]

I modeled my entire high-school ball game after Stevie. 3s and flying high dude was an inspiration.

[@chrispbacon1167]

Yo this brought back so many memories it was a beautiful time to be from NY.. we use to sit on top of the great when we couldn’t get in

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

I remember Skip playing here in Toronto for the Raps.

[@UppurMGMT]

From 2:36-2:43,7:33-7:45 I practiced that whole sequence for years lol. Going up and down the court over and over . Some people have a good handle but Steve franchise and skip had what we call in the hood a yo-yo. The way steve brought the ball up the court and the crowd starts going crazy bruh It was flawless.

[@healthyman5826]

I feel you. I modeled my game after Stevie

[@c1979h]

AO, had good handles too, turned on a dime, Franchise and Skip had better jumpers.

[@Baltimoretay21207]

Both of their hezi pull ups are deadly 🤯

[@WakeAndBakeWithUncleRay]

Salute And Respect to street ball Legends....

[@malcolmdavis7252]

Can't forget booger

[@reallife0728]

THE GOOD OLE DAYS!!!!🤎🤎🤎 RUCKER PARK WAS LIFE!!!!!!💯💯💯

[@skrilla4rilla]

Steve Frances got 1 of the best handles of All Times. Next to A.I, Kyrie Irving,& Hotsauce

[@LaoKast21]

Hotsauce? Dude carries all the time. Don’t forget to mention Jason Williams and Baron Davis.

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

You forgot white chocolate.

[@kgema89]

Lol going glass every free throw is nasty work but man do i miss this era and Stevie Franchise 😂

[@dsg3053]

Skip had one of the greatest split careers lol Skip in the street Rafer in the league. That man was in the Finals showing off. I was proud of him he came a long way and gave street ball a good name by proving that he could be both. Great job Skip. Peace.

[@marcuseversley3334]

If you really watched Steve Francis in the league he had a street ball game. Him and A.I made the wide crossover famous

[@c1979h]

Don't disrespect God Shammgod......

[@Somethingfoulish]

Sham had one of the nastiest handles but when it comes to the big left to right and right to left cross that was AI and Steve. That cross started in MD. A dude named Dean showed AI that cross and he took off with it!

[@reuelray]

There's a little Seventh -Day Adventist School in Takoma Park Maryland that used to be called Columbia Union college, now it's called Washington Adventist University. Stevie used to come in and hoop with us when he was a boy. There was a lot of dribbling from 'Jughead'. The seventh day Adventist have a basketball league and Stevie played in it. He was a dunk machine. A buddy of man who used to play for Columbia Union College that I mentored, took Stevie under his wings. He put Stevie on a AAU team along with a kid that I was mentoring and they completely decimated the league. When it came time to play for his Blair high school team in Montgomery county Maryland, he always came up short with the grades so he didn't really get a chance to show out. He cut his teeth however in local DC area leagues so much that the NBA was going to draft him off the playground. His mom turned it down. Stevie was a beast off the court too. A dude used to rent a gym called Takoma- Langley Rec Center. Only serious ballers were allowed along with their coaches. I had another kid I was mentoring and put him out there. Stevie had just got drafted. After the free play sessions, Stevie would Lead everybody to the weight room and then they would drive to his neighborhood in Takoma Park and Stevie would lead everyone to run up and down the steepest hill there. That dedication is what got him in the NBA and explain when I saw him come down for an open dunk, his shoulders were above the rim and he had to push down in the hoop. It was a two-handed dunk.

[@justaguy328]

Steve Francis was a serious problem early in his career! Some of the best handles i've seen to this day

[@pudge-nyce2442]

Franchise came to Harlem world and stood on business! Roasted skip in his own city🔥

[@rodrickthompson2799]

I love both they game and swag, no shame in done!! No one would be in awe if was a superstar busting up a bum lol!! This is a legit opponent he handling the biz to, that's what makes it entertaining, it's all good!!!!

[@DASHEVY]

Memories of watching And 1 mix tapes💯

[@DASHEVY]

Nothing like it

[@Corean_Jesus]

Skip 2 my Lou made it from the streets to the NBA and shake and baked Sasha Vujacic

[@80sfreak42]

Fuck yeah...skip went to fresno state....I went there cause of him...but Francis was nasty in the NBA..skip had sick handle too...2 legends for sure...

[@largon2008]

I kkow skip owns streetball in general, but you gotta give that day to Francis. He was looking like the star that day and i can say i was there at that game so many years ago wow..

[@marcuseversley3334]

He was looking like the all-star because he was One lol

[@brandon5118]

2000s babies don't know nothing about this! To the 80s and early 90s babies our childhood was the shit!!

[@largon2008]

They should call steve francis the magnet. dude looks like he has magnetic hands bouncing the ball so hard and never loses it..

[@marcuseversley3334]

That's the Maryland crossover

[@dennismagee9555]

STEVE FRANCIS HAD BETTER HANDLES THAN SKIP!!!!!

[@ItsBenRoyboy]

naw, Skip had the rock on string it seems with both hands going up and down the court. Franchise had handles tho.

[@Dvco33333]

...No question...and could slam tha rock 🔥

[@juansagredo580]

hell naw

[@juansagredo580]

skip to my lou got the best handles ever.-

[@philipcooper6264]

Yeah Stevie was nice nice

[@eddamonsta]

In this game it was lou with out the skip Francis killed it Crazy throw back game 🔥

[@Sgoldensr]

🔥 🔥 🔥 that was lit!

[@BreakHarpe]

I feel like the beginning of the end of And1 was when they took away the vets. We've been seeing these individuals for years so why would u take them away? Even if they only got 2 minutes a game, it was more than how good of a player they were, they were also very entertaining off court. Headach always seemed like he was really having fun out there. When they brought in those power hungry coaches & took away the vets it was over. Main Event was a great coach in season 2...smh And 1 really dropped the ball

[@RobThaBank]

Seeing the best player on ya team get cooked by the other teams best player will either humble you or motivate you

[@bubbles12356]

Steve was insan, he lil man'd skip

[@joeycrack1120]

Whole park got the white tee memo 😂😂

[@abelin5568]

Skip did not want that smoke in the end. You could see Steve was about to shut the lights off.

[@terryhill841]

STEVE CAME TO PLAY THAT DAY 😊

[@Tadrian4084]

Daaaammmmmm I missed those days

[@THEronleon1]

Skip wasn't the same streetballer when he joined the league. His younger years as a streetballer is when he had more swag and smooth moves

[@gainztrain9890]

I remember this game. Stevie was really like dat.. Skip was a baller but Steve was next level on this court. These dudes couldn't fuck with him, not even Skip

[@kp6153]

Steve Francis was eating up skip like it was his last meal.

[@Sweat404]

Man I miss this era of basketball

[@robertm3951]

RIP Greg G

[@SDSOverfiend]

I miss these days man. Baggy shorts ankle socks and buckets.

[@aaliyah132009]

Both was in the NBA around this time

[@perfectionbarberallenallen3041]

Franchise 🐐

[@martelllynchakatelltudaaka8719]

Damn shame what happened to The Franchise Steve was one of the best right next to BubbaChuck A.I.3

[@J_Myers837]

Francis reminds me of ai he was legit with the handles and jump shots

[@abelin5568]

Steve should have been arrested and charged with assault because of the way he destroyed headache.

[@ChrisJProductionz]

Rafer Alston is the second best streetball player to ever play in rucker park right behind Dr.J

[@francisbaxter4663]

Think Durant actually shut that place down.

[@sixpack1385]

@@francisbaxter4663 thank you

[@macewindau3060]

Many legends played at this park, Dr J & KD made cameos, but not necessarily considered ‘streetball’ players. Rafer Alston is a Harlem legend, but he is there along side dozens of others, Earl Manigault, Joe Hammond, Tyron Evans, Richard ‘Peewee’ Kirkland, Edward ‘Booger’ Smith, etc, etc, etc

[@cap536]

I was at this game I remember feeling disappointed because both teams actually began to play defense at some point and no one really got a chance to show out like we wanted them to, still was a great experience tho

[@networkchannel5804]

Keep in mind nobody double teamed skip!

[@Kstretch271]

They ain't have to. He garbage.

[@northnuyork2108]

@@Kstretch271 buggin

[@acethomas5774]

Steve had the better handles and most def the better offensive game

[@Kstretch271]

Way better than Rafer Alston. On my soul. And I'm born and raised in new York.

[@ousmanjaguraga5293]

Steve was more flashy but raef had the ball on the string way more u rarely ever seen him loose the ball

[@DaShamGodDONFrankBatista347]

Late 90's - early 2000's Rucker Park was peak streetball. Flashy dribble moves were getting really popular before And 1 came around. Allen Iverson also had a game I believe where he dropped 40. Of course Kobe visited coming off a three-peat as well. Steve Francis was the man this game and I modeled my game after him growing up. I think that this is the same announcer that went crazy when Lamar Odom did that Shamgod through the defenders legs. I can tell because he sounds just like Stephen A. Smith 😂😂. Also I believe "Headache" is Tim Gittens right?

[@sayone9695]

If steve could have grasp control of them head aches the showdowns between him and the gone but never forgotten GOAT BLACK MAMBA mann

[@LibraLee88]

Back when NBA had guys to represent them like Francis Iverson Marbury J-Will who handles were Nasty...now all i see is Kyrie Irving really

[@uptownscenery9175]

u doing chris Paul dirty

[@willfrazier6660]

Almost every guard in the NBA has stupid handles like this honestly. Just so much money to be made and people trying to protect their brand so much that they don't get involved with games like these.

[@johnleon2594]

@@uptownscenery9175 And Steph

[@7Logik]

Everybody talking about franchise I'm the nba I remember him at Maryland in college kid was a problem against my Tarheels . Lobe snakcingbdudes on 2k with this dude, he's a beast

[@kincamell2]

Much Gratitude

[@Coach_Santos_Fitness]

Does anyone know who number 19 was with the dunk? At about 2:20 min in cause he looks huge and I couldn't recognize him

[@jaybrown3341]

When Stevie went in his flight bag it was a wrap🚀🚀🚀

[@joshuawoodard6998]

Rafer was a great PG helping to lead his team to the Finals only to get done dirty by them and let a Fat, short rusty Jameer take his minutes lol. Francis was a special talent. He used to hold his own vs anyone in the league.

[@IssacEinstein]

Steve Francis constantly gave Skip and Headache a headache when he was skipped past them. Steve killed the Rucker

[@BeenFlyySince87]

When was Steve Francis called the reason... Sound like a myplayer on 2k😂😂😂

[@philipcooper6264]

Never was called the reason...they trippin...Hooper's Kno him by Franchise.." Stevie Franchise"

[@DreChampProductions]

They gave him that nickname, that's what they did at Rucker. The name you had before coming there didn't matter.

[@AngieCarr]

If you watch the full version, you can hear the announcer going back and forth with the crowd telling them that they already got someone called “Franchise”. They cussed him a bit and that’s when he tells them, they already got a “Franchise”.

[@DreChampProductions]

@@AngieCarr Yea they did John Strickland(RIP)

[@Kstretch271]

Best comment brosky brogod broham.

[@martelllynchakatelltudaaka8719]

I wish I could've played at the rucker in my prime! I would've definitely been an official streetball legend and not just in my home city of Gary, IN

[@Q_StangGT3000]

I always thought skip just had that one move, but hot sauce and AO had Handel's. Shane da Dribbling machine was alright, and white chocolate had and still have sick moves.

[@kwamegamble1561]

Y’all didn’t even peep the original ninja head band tho

[@dhanuparwito20]

Steve Francis definitely a better player than Rafer Alston. Both in streetball and NBA.

[@Kstretch271]

Dead ass. On my soul.

[@robertlamell9921]

The Franchise's handle in his prime had no equal..I said it...

[@MR.__G]

That’s crazy because his handles displayed here are as good as anyones in todays league

[@NabilAbdulrashidComedy]

I remember dummies who used to argue about the and1 street all guys being better than nba dudes and how the nba guys couldn’t do street ball moves.. lol

[@urbanboy7324]

Skip to my lou and 1💙💙

[@thomasbridges7323]

Wow watching this in 2022 they had fun no gun shots how the world had changed glad i am home i do feel for the 11 year old girl who' was killed today up that way in NYC it hurts us all

[@jrvapor]

Nice to see this old footage, the thing I never liked is the announcers talkin the whole game smh!!!

[@preachmann1271]

They forgot about...my man Francis..smh...by then skip is a nba pg..no more street baller....two great point guards...

[@jacewoods411]

If not for Bias Steve Francis would've been the Greatest Terp eva 🤔😎

[@Mackman81]

Facts

[@GAMADEMARCUS]

Whatever happened to Juan Dixon, after he left Maryland?.

[@reuelray]

Kinda sort of. There were a lot of other great players that came through Maryland like John Lucas. Buck Williams, Walt Williams, Lyn Elmore, Tommy McMillan, Albert King, Brad Davis Gene Shue, Lonnie Baxter, Adrian branch and a few more.. Don't get me wrong though. I am bias towards Bias who my mom and sisters used to babysit over in Southeast DC, and Stevie who I saw play a lot...

[@marcuseversley3334]

@@GAMADEMARCUS got drafted by the Wizards played in the league for 8 years then went overseas. He coach college basketball now

[@Earthislife1031]

How much did Future drop?

[@michael.abosaid5252]

Steve obviously has superior skills but to me he also looked to have slightly better ballhandling than skip.

[@MrPlus-lo1gx]

damn i watched this mad times just noticed they double team francis everytime he get the ball

[@tjsmoothrock]

Young Escalade in the Rucker RIP

[@jeffreyandreas280]

In today's game a healthy Steve Frances would be a Top 8 guy

[@TheOlmonroe1]

I would go top 5