Rockets rookie G Francis named NBA Player of the Week

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Rookie guard Steve Francis of the Houston
Rockets today was named NBA Player of the Week for the period ending
Sunday.

Francis, who is the first rookie to win the award this season, led Houston
a 4-0 record last week by averaging 22.3 points, 9.8 assists and 5.5
rebounds per game. He shot 52 percent from the field as the Rockets
extended their winning streak to six games.

The 6-3 Francis, who left Maryland after his junior season, had 22
points, seven assists and seven rebounds in Thursday's victory over
Denver. He netted 10 points with nine assists on Sunday against Miami.

"Steve was phenomenal. He's fearless," Rockets coach Rudy
Tomjanovich said. "I would expect that growth to keep coming."

Francis is averaging 18.1 points and 7.0 assists on the season to lead all
rookies in both categories. Michael Jordan was the last rookie to lead his
closs in both scoring and assists, accomplishing the feat during the
1984-85 season.

Other candidates for the NBA Player of the Week were Charlotte's
Eddie Jones, Denver's Antonio McDyess, Golden State's Antawn
Jamison, Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, Phoenix's Jason Kidd and San
Antonio's David Robinson.