An early entry candidate for the 1999 NBA Draft, Steve Francis played three college seasons at three different schools, achieving great success at each of them. Selected with the second overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies out of Maryland, the 6-3 guard was traded to Houston in a three-team deal and went on to earn Co-Rookie of the Year honors with the Rockets, whom he led in scoring and assists. Francis was named Second Team All-America by AP and first team All-ACC after his junior year at Maryland, where he averaged 17 points and 2.8 steals per game in his only season of Division I basketball. His ACC-leading 95 steals were the second highest total in Terrapin history and he also led Maryland with 45 three-pointers. As a sophomore at Allegany Community College in Maryland, Francis averaged 25.3 ppg, 8.7 apg, 7.1 rpg and 5.3 spg, setting school records for points (885), steals (187) and free throws (204). At San Jacinto State in Texas as a freshman, Francis led the team to a record of 36-1, averaging 12.5 ppg, 7.5 apg and 7.5 rpg. Francis' draft rights were traded by the Grizzlies along with forward Tony Massenburg to the Houston Rockets as part of three-way deal also involving the Orlando Magic on Aug. 27, 1999. Vancouver received Antoine Carr, Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington, Brent Price and a future first-round pick from Houston and a future second-round pick from Orlando, the Magic received Michael Smith, Rodrick Rhodes, Lee Mayberry and Makhtar Ndiaye from Vancouver and the Rockets also received Don MacLean and a future first-round pick from Orlando. Francis enjoyed a brilliant season, sharing Rookie of the Year honors with Chicago's Elton Brand after averaging 18.0 points, 6.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.53 steals per game. He was the only rookie to rank among the top five first-year players in each of the nine statistical categories charted by the NBA, and just the seventh player in NBA history to average as many as 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in his first season.

1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
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Named to the 1999-2000 Schick All-Rookie First Team Named the co-winner of the 1999-2000 Schick Rookie of the Year Award, along with Elton Brand Named the co-winner of the Schick Rookie of the Month award for April, averaging 20.8 points, 6.9 assists and 6.5 rebounds Scored 31 points in a 119-116 win at Seattle on 4/7 Poured in 30 points in a 102-100 loss at Vancouver on 4/4 Named the Schick Rookie of the Month for March, averaging 19.5 points, 5.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds Netted a career-high 34 points, dished 14 assists and grabbed 9 boards in a 110-95 win over the L.A. Clippers on 3/23 Tallied 32 points in a 91-85 loss at New York on 3/14 Scored 32 points in a 108-101 loss to Phoenix on 3/7 Finished second in the NBA.com Slam Dunk competition during All-Star Weekend Participated in the Schick Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend Totaled 27 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds in a 104-98 loss in Denver on 1/28 Notched a triple-double, tallying 25 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in a 115-110 loss to Golden State on 1/27 Named NBA Player of the Week (1/17 - 1/23), averaging 22.3 ppg, 9.8 apg and 5.5 rpg Recorded 31 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds in a 121-111 win in Dallas on 1/17 Named Schick Rookie of the Month for games played in December, averaging 16.6 points, 6.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.42 steals per game for the month Recorded 24 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds in a 118-110 OT win in Vancouver on 11/29 Posted 27 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in a 110-107 loss in Seattle on 11/20 Totaled 27 points (4-7 3 FG, 9-10 FT), 8 assists and 5 rebounds in a 103-95 victory in Golden State on 11/13 Scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in an 89-88 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on 11/10 Made his NBA debut, totaling 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, in a 98-93 loss to Milwaukee on 11/2

Taken from NBA.com