The Rockets point guard was asked why he turned down possibly better offers to come back to Houston.

"This is where I started my journey in the NBA -- I started here in Houston," said Francis. "I looked at it as an opportunity to finish some of the things I started."

Quickly the interview turned to the disappointment so far, and Thompson admitted he was surprised to hear the rumor that Francis started this season out of shape.

"That week before leading up to training camp, I didn't even work out," confessed Francis. "My son was born 7 days before training camp, so I just decided to spend that time with my wife, my daughter and my son."

"When I came to training camp, the first couple of days I was behind the ball, but ever since then, there's been nothing as far as me not being in shape or anything like that."

Francis admitted he was pained by the "DNP-CD" (Did Not Play - Coach's Decision) next to his name early on.

"Our first game was on TNT and we were playing the Lakers," said Francis. "I'm just sitting on the sidelines. To me, it just seemed like it was unreal, that I was not out on that basketball court."

"Besides my mom passing, I think that was the toughest thing I ever went through in my life."

When asked if he had sat down with new Rockets coach Rick Adelman to discuss his role, Francis said -- "Not really".

"He's the captain of the ship," said Francis of Adelman. "I'm doing what they say for me to do. I'm going out and practicing. I'm putting in the extra work. When given the opportunity to get in the game, I think that I'm producing."

Francis said he hasn't lost confidence, but admitted his role now is different.

"I don't need to go out and try to score 30 points a night. I need to go out and get steals, you know ... get buckets, don't get me wrong, but also help our two guys who are leading the team get involved in the game, and that's what my role is now."

The 6-foot-3 guard showed that confidence in the interview when he was asked about his strong game and game-winning shot in Phoenix.

"It was normal. That's what I do. Given the opportunity, I think I'll be able to take advantage of it. That right there showed a step that I was taking and also with the coach being that he slowly is developing more confidence in me to have me out there in the fourth quarter."

Steve said he wouldn't back down from competition for playing time.

"I'm going to just go out there and play. I'm going to go out there and give it my all. If it has to come down to me playing somebody one-on-one full court, I'll do it."

Former Rockets and current TNT hosts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith had some humbling words for Francis after the interview.

"I feel bad for Steve Francis -- he's a good kid," said Barkley, who likened Francis to J.R. Rider and Stephon Marbury. "To me, he's a perfect example of a guy who has a ton of talent, but hasn't grown and learned how to play the game. He has never learned how to play the point guard. He was just so talented he got it by."

Smith felt former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich "might have been the worst coach" for Steve to start his career.