Ex-NBA great Francis cited for public intoxication

Burbank police say they arrested Francis for public intoxication after
responding to a report of an unruly patron in a hotel bar. Francis was taken
into custody, issued a citation and released Monday morning.

Francis, a three-time NBA All-Star during his playing days, opened up about
his troubled childhood dealing drugs and his struggles with alcohol abuse
earlier this month in an essay published by The Players' Tribune.

"What happened to Steve Francis? I was drinking heavily, is what happened," he
wrote. "And that can be just as bad. In the span of a few years I lost
basketball, I lost my whole identity, and I lost my stepfather, who committed
suicide."

Francis, 41, was the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 2000. His career ended with
the Houston Rockets in 2007-08 and included stops with the Orlando Magic and
New York Knicks.

--Field Level Media