 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Grizzlies pakutanga yakanga ine zvisarudzo zvitatu zvokupinda muDraft. Steve Francis akanga ari wechipiri pakusarudzwa kwose mu1999 NBA draftkubva paUniversity of Maryland. Francis akanyanya kuchema pashure pokusarudzwa naVancouver, achipika kuti Chicago Bulls yaizodemba kusarudza Elton Brand kutanga panzvimbo. Zvichitevera kunyorwa kweVancouver, Francis akazivisa pachena kuti aisada kutamba kuGrizzlies, achidudza chinhambwe kubva kumba kwake kuMaryland, mitero, kutsigira, uye kuda kwaMwari. Francis akatsoropodzwa zvikuru nokuda kwezvaakaita, zvikurukuru muVancouver. Mushure mekuputika kwake pachena, Francis akachinjirwa kuHouston Rockets muzhizha iro muchikwata chevatatu, chibvumirano chevatambi gumi nevaviri chakaunza Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington, Antoine Carr, Brent Price, pamwe neyekutanga- uye yechipiri-kutenderera kunhonga kuGrizzlies. Iye naBrand vakagoverana rukudzo rwaRookie of the Year. 