Yao Ming talks about Steve Francis and how he was more than a teammate

In 2002, Yao Ming landed in Houston straight from China. It was an entirely different world for the seven-foot-six beanpole.

The language. The food. The culture. The man who was used to being feared by opponents in his homeland suddenly needed a shell to go into every once in awhile in order to catch up on the fast-paced lifestyle that greeted him.

He was expected to be the future of a Houston Rockets franchise that was in dire need of a big man to take on the gap left by Hakeem Olajuwon. The tools and skills were there, but the mentality required a lot of work.

In his recent contribution to The Players’ Tribune, the 2002 Draft’s top overall pick looked back on his early days as a Rocket and recalled how Steve Francis played a big role in his transition.

“In the Chinese tradition, when you meet someone for the first time you stay back a little bit. You say hello, shake hands, but it is very formal. Over time, like a pot of water that slowly heats up, you get to know someone and get more comfortable. Steve wasn’t that way. Steve was boiling water right away. On the court or off the court, Steve was 200 degrees all the time. I instantly liked him.”

“I will always respect that he took interest in me and welcomed me. When he got traded to Orlando, I missed him a lot. He was a good teammate and a good friend, and he was one of the reasons I felt at home in Houston my first year.”

Both players weren’t just Houston’s one-two punch in the making. They also formed a special bond, thanks to Francis’ willingness to help out his big man. From basketball to girls, the two talked about a myriad of topics.

Yao and Francis played two years together in Houston, making up a memorable All Star tandem in 2003, until the latter was traded to the Orlando Magic.

In 2010, the two were reunited in China, although they weren’t directly involved with each other, as Steve Francis had a very forgettable stint in the country’s professional basketball league, playing for the Beijing Ducks, while Yao Ming owns the Shanghai Sharks.

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