| | VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Houston Rockets point guard
Steve Francis, making his first trip to the city he snubbed, said
he doesn't owe Vancouver basketball fans anything.
"I don't feel I owe anybody an apology," Francis said Monday,
prior to the Rockets 118-110 overtime victory over the Grizzlies. "I just feel like I exercised the rights that Steve Francis had as an individual, as an NBA player. And I think the best thing happened to me and the Vancouver Grizzlies."
Francis attempted to downplay the significance of the game, his
first in Vancouver since the Grizzlies, who drafted him second
overall in June, were forced into trading him in August.
"That's a chapter of my life that's over now," he said. "I
have so much ahead of me. I just want to continue doing what I'm
doing now and that's go forward and be a great player."
Francis, who pouted on national TV immediately after being
drafted by Vancouver, was dealt to Houston in a three-way trade
also involving the Orlando Magic. Francis all but forced the trade
when he refused to sign a contract with the Grizzlies.
For the past week, the Grizzlies' marketing department had
attempted to capitalize on Francis' return. One newspaper ad urged
fans to come out and see, "Barkley, Olajuwon ... and that other
guy," a reference to Francis.
Francis, despite committing 58 turnovers in 14 games, is off to
a good start, averaging 16.6 points and 6.1 rebounds.
Antoine Carr, one of four players the Grizzlies acquired in
return for Francis, didn't agree with Francis' decision not to play
for Vancouver.
"He's a young man that needs to take a look at himself," Carr
said. "You're a rookie, you come in this league and you think you
can control. I've been here for 16 years. You don't have any
control until you go out and do the job.
"It's up to him. They want to make him the star in Houston. Now
he's got the boat. Drive it."
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