Steve Francis. An unbelievable athlete and basketball player. Hmmm, where do I begin. Although draft night wasn't the most memorable moment of Francis's NBA career, many knew he was a star in the making. Francis made it clear he didn't want to be a member of the Vancouver Grizzlies, but that didn't stop him from becoming a good NBA player in his prime. Steve could handle the basketball very well, jump out of the gym and could score with the best of them. Although he has had many good seasons, his best NBA season (in my opinion) was with the Orlando Magic. He average 21 ppg, 7 asts, 1 stl, and 5.8 rbs. He will always be remember as a member of the Houston Rockets where he spent most of his NBA career. With the Rockets, he average 20 ppg and 6 asts. Awesome numbers for a talented player.
Many wondered why Steve never achieved an Hall of Fame career. Many fans saw the decline in Francis numbers as his career progress. Most just couldn't understand how a great talent fell so quickly. How does a star player go from 21 ppg to 5 ppg in less then 2 and half years? Sadly, Francis was addicted to alcohol. Francis said "What happened to Steve Francis? I was drinking heavily, is what happened. And that can be just as bad. In the span of a few years I lost basketball, I lost my whole identity, and I lost my stepfather, who committed suicide." I must admit, sometimes you never know what someone is going through in their life. Everyone handles things differently then the next person, so it can seem strange. Recently, Steve was arrested for public intoxication. It's another block in his post NBA career. Nevertheless, I want to wish Steve and his family nothing but the best. With that said, I hope he gets the help he needs to continue to live a blessful life. Be safe and thanks for the memories on the NBA court Mr. Francis. Now go and continue to be great off the court in the game of life.
