Steve Francis has left the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association after playing just 14 minutes in the first four games of his Duck career. NiuBBall.com reports Francis and the club mutually agreed to part ways. Francis had embarrassed the Ducks by giving fans the finger during a game last week.
Steve Francis Quits Chinese Team, Realizes He Was Signed Solely Because Of His Name
Francis likewise felt embarrassed that he wasn’t playing. From NiuBBall:
Francis ... became quickly frustrated with [coach] Min [Lulei] over his lack of minutes and felt as if the team was merely using him to sell tickets and merchandise.
Ah, Stevie Franchise has finally learned a lesson you’d have thought years in the NBA spotlight would have taught him: Fame is both a gift and a curse. Without his name, Francis would not have gotten the $800,000 contract from Beijing in the first place. Apparently, he failed to recognize that, thinking the Ducks actually wanted his stepback jumpers and crossovers to nowhere. What a pickle.
No offense to Francis, but based on the last NBA work we saw from Stevie, I find it difficult to believe he'll ever get another large basketball paycheck that isn't owed to his fame. Take a lesson from Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury and just embrace it.
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