Steve Francis Net Worth, Maryland Career, NBA Career, Assets
Steve Francis is a retired American professional basketball player known for his significant impact on the NBA, with a net worth estimated at $40 million. His wealth primarily stems from his illustrious basketball career, during which he played for notable teams such as the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks.
Career Earnings
Throughout his NBA journey, Steve Francis amassed an impressive $103 million in salary. His peak earning season was in 2008-2009, when he earned $17 million while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Early Life
Born Steven D’Shawn Francis on February 21, 1977, in Takoma Park, Maryland, he was affectionately nicknamed “Wink” during his childhood. The death of his mother from cancer in 1995 profoundly affected him, leading to a hiatus from basketball. During this challenging time, his grandmother stepped in as a parental figure. His father was incarcerated for 20 years due to bank robbery. Steve described his grandfather, a garbage collector, as his best friend.
Growing up, he faced significant hardships, including living with 18 people in a cramped apartment and relying on food stamps. At the age of 10, Steve began working for drug dealers and attended six different high schools while playing only two high school basketball games.
Although he dropped out of high school, he later completed his GED and received an opportunity to play college basketball at San Jacinto College. He subsequently transferred to the Allegany College of Maryland, where he made history by leading two unbeaten teams to the National Junior College Tournament and recorded a quadruple-double against Shawn Marion.
Maryland Career
In 1998, Steve Francis transferred to the University of Maryland, where he excelled on the court. He earned selections to the All-ACC First Team and the All-ACC Tournament Team. Under his leadership, Maryland reached the Sweet 16, and he became a finalist for both the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year Awards. Despite initially expressing intentions to return for his senior season, Francis ultimately declared for the NBA Draft.
NBA Career
Steve Francis was selected as the second overall pick by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1999 NBA Draft but was traded to the Houston Rockets shortly thereafter. In his rookie season, he was named Co-Rookie of the Year and finished as a runner-up in the Slam Dunk Contest. He played with the Rockets until 2004, after which he was traded to the Orlando Magic and later to the New York Knicks in 2006.
A three-time NBA All-Star from 2002 to 2004, Francis returned to Houston in 2007 on a two-year contract worth $6 million but faced struggles with injuries and performance issues. He briefly signed with the Beijing Ducks in China in 2010, playing only four games. Throughout his NBA career, Steve Francis scored a total of 10,446 points (averaging 18.1 points per game), recorded 3,215 rebounds (averaging 5.6 rebounds per game), and dished out 3,473 assists (averaging 6.0 assists per game).
Personal Life
Beyond basketball, Steve Francis is an entrepreneur involved in various ventures including a construction company, boxing promotions, a clothing line called We R One, a barbershop, and a record label named Maserati Music. He suffers from Ménière’s disease, which causes symptoms like vertigo and tinnitus. A supporter of Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election, Francis expressed pride in having an African-American candidate running for office: “It’s important that an African-American candidate is running… It’s a great feeling for me.”
Assets
In April 2019, Steve listed his Houston home—where he lived for nearly two decades—for sale at $5.6 million but has since reduced the asking price multiple times; it is currently listed at $4.6 million. In January 2020, he purchased a new mansion in Houston for just under $5 million.Steve Francis’s journey from humble beginnings to NBA stardom exemplifies resilience and determination amidst adversity.
