Remembering the most disappointing era in Rockets history

The Houston Rockets have had many successful eras. Unfortunately, the Steve Francis era was not one of them.

Rockets fans of a certain age will remember those days fondly. How could they not? Francis inspired hope in a way few Rockets players have.

The Olajuwon era was over. After watching an aging core of The Dream, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen struggle to reclaim their prior glory, Rockets fans needed an injection of youth. Enter Francis.

The rush hour handles. The otherworldly vertical leap. Francis' entertainment value was off the charts:

It just never quite translated in terms of on-court value.

Rockets' Steve Francis barely missed the mark

That's not to say Francis wasn't productive.

His best season in Houston (and the NBA) came in 2001-02. Francis averaged 21.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game, with a Box Plus/Minus (BPM) of 3.8. At just 25, it felt like long-term stardom was an inevitability for The Franchise.

So when the Rockets leaped to the number one spot in the 2002 NBA Draft, it felt like something truly special was happening.

Landing the top pick in any draft is a golden ticket, but when Yao Ming is headlining the class, it's a gift from the Heavens. When you already roster Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and a solid cast of role players, you're heading towards an NBA championship.

But that's not what happened for the Rockets.

Francis, Ming never gelled for the Rockets

The rest is history.

Off-court issues plagued Francis. As Ming developed into a star, it became clear that the Rockets wanted Francis to be the Robin to his Batman. That wasn't Francis' vision. He'd already been dubbed The Franchise. Why wouldn't he be the franchise player?

As he began to clash with Jeff VanGundy, the Rockets traded him - and Mobley - for Tracy McGrady. It was an all-in push towards title contention.

Rockets fans know that didn't work out either. There's nobody to blame in this case. Ming and McGrady would both be plagued by injuries, and some of the best Rockets teams ever assembled weren't able to meet their lofty potential.

It's a sad story, but it starts with Francis. His demons are well-documented, so this shouldn't be used to shame him either.

If anything, let's give him credit. The Francis era evokes painful memories, but if you can fight through them, there's pleasure to find as well. For that brief moment, it felt like the Rockets had the best young point guard in the NBA. Championships matter, but if you can't find moments to love in between them, life as an NBA fan is going to be arduous.

Just ask any Rockets fans who were around during the Francis era.