Steve Francis
A gravity-defying point guard whose explosive athleticism and crossover made him a must-watch star before injuries cut his prime short.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 21·Generation X
Biography
Steve Francis arrived in the NBA with a chip on his shoulder and springs in his legs. Drafted second overall by Vancouver in 1999, he famously refused to play for the Grizzlies, forcing a trade to Houston where he instantly became the face of the post-championship Rockets. His game was a spectacle of kinetic energy—a blur of hesitation crossovers, fearless drives into the trees, and acrobatic finishes that earned him the nickname 'Stevie Franchise.' For a few electric years, he was a triple-double threat and a three-time All-Star, forming a potent but ultimately flawed partnership with a young Yao Ming. His style, however, came at a cost; his body endured punishing contact, and his career trajectory steeply declined after a 2004 trade to Orlando. Francis’s legacy is one of unfulfilled potential, a reminder of how quickly a dazzling flame can burn out in the league’s relentless grind.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Steve was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Steve Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Steve's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named co-NBA Rookie of the Year in 2000 alongside Elton Brand.
- Selected as an NBA All-Star three consecutive times from 2002 to 2004.
- Averaged over 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game across his first five NBA seasons.
- Led the Houston Rockets in scoring and assists for multiple seasons following the trade of Hakeem Olajuwon.
Did You Know?
He was traded on draft night in 1999 after publicly stating he would not play for the Vancouver Grizzlies, leading to a multi-team deal that sent him to Houston.
Francis won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2000 with a between-the-legs dunk inspired by a character from the movie 'White Men Can't Jump.'
He briefly played for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2010-11 season.
Francis and Cuttino Mobley were known for their pre-game 'head-butt' ritual in Houston.
“I play with a lot of heart. I play like it's my last game every time I step on the court.”
