Francis, Yao to Start in 2003 NBA All-Star Game

HOUSTON (Jan. 23, 2003) - Steve Francis and Yao Ming will start together for the Western Conference in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, standing as the only pair of teammates to start in this year's game. This marks the sixth time in franchise history that two or more Rockets have been voted into the All-Star Game. This year's All-Star Game will be played at Philips Arena in Atlanta at 7 p.m. CST on Sunday, Feb. 9.

"This shows that people enjoy our players and want to see them in the big game," Houston Rockets Head Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "It's good for the franchise. I feel good that we have an organization where players can flourish and receive honors such as this."

Yao becomes the 16th rookie in NBA history to be named an All-Star starter and the first rookie starter since Grant Hill in 1995. In NBA history, Yao becomes the sixth rookie center to start an All-Star Game, joining Ray Felix in 1954, Wilt Chamberlain in 1960, Walt Bellamy in 1962, Elvin Hayes in 1969 and Shaquille O'Neal in 1993. He stands with Hayes as the only Rockets rookies to start the All-Star Game and joins Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson as the only Rockets rookies to be named to the All-Star team. Overall, Yao stands as the 13th All-Star in franchise history and the 10th Rockets player to start in the All-Star Game.

"To have this opportunity makes me very happy," Yao said. "I'm very honored and I hope that I can play well in the game."

This marks Francis' second-consecutive start for the Western Conference, making him the eighth Rockets player to receive multiple selections and the fifth player in franchise history to make multiple All-Star starts. Francis joins Clyde Drexler as the only Rockets guards to play in multiple All-Star Games. In his All-Star debut last season, Francis scored three points with three assists and two steals in 18 minutes as a starter.

"The fans definitely showed us a lot of support," Francis said. "I think we're on our way up. If we can keep the base of players that we have, as long as we continue to believe in one another, I think the sky is the limit."

Yao ranked fourth overall in All-Star balloting and led all Western Conference centers with 1,286,324 votes, followed by the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal with 1,049,081 votes. Francis ranked second among Western Conference guards with 966,669 votes, trailing only Kobe Bryant's NBA-leading 1,474,386 votes. Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett will start at forward for the Western Conference. In the Eastern Conference, Vince Carter and Jermaine O'Neal will start at forward, Ben Wallace will start at center, and Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson will start at guard.