July 22, 1999

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Steve Francis wants to make the Vancouver Grizzlies a winner and mend fences with their fans.

"I'm not going to be the sole guy that can change it, but I definitely can help this team win more than eight games" out of 50, Francis said Wednesday. "I think I can bring some of my leadership to the table as far as knowing how to win."

Francis, a 6-foot-3 guard from Maryland, was the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft. He was in Vancouver to discuss his contract with management. He also wants to reintroduce himself to the fans.

When he was drafted, he seemed far from pleased to be picked by the Grizzlies. But his sour countenance at the draft didn't have anything to do with the city or the team, he said Wednesday.

He said his look of displeasure stemmed from a realization he'd be leaving the area where he grew up and leaving behind the grandmother who raised him after his mother died of cancer. Francis is from Silver Spring, Md.

"This is a place where we can make a name for ourselves in history," Francis said as he held up a Grizzlies jersey with No. 23 on it. "We can be the first people who took this team to the playoffs. I feel comfortable about what's going on for me."

As for his draft-day reaction, "A lot of people are going to think what they want to think," Francis said. "If they want to take it as I'm a bad guy because I want to express my feelings, I express my feelings on the basketball court, too. I'm never going to change that, expressing my feelings.

"It wasn't Vancouver, it was just the fact I was going to be so far from my family, my grandmother, my brothers and sisters."

Francis, who played a year at Maryland, has ventured away from home only once before, to play a year of junior-college ball at San Jacinto, Texas.

Francis's agent, Jeff Fried, said Francis would sign with the Grizzlies.

"We have not commenced any negotiations, but we don't foresee any problems whatsoever," Fried said. "He'll be a Vancouver Grizzly and perform very well. The people in this city will get to know him and like him very much."

Francis came to Maryland as a point guard, his natural position, but was switched to the shooting guard and averaged 17 points. He'll probably be the shooting guard with Vancouver, with Mike Bibby at the point.