Zaijian Franchise. We Hardly Knew Ye

Steve Francis has left the Beijing Ducks.

The 33-year-old former NBA star, nicknamed Franchise during his time with the Houston Rockets, left the team after two weeks, a club official told Xinhua on Monday, a day after he left the locker room at halftime of Beijing’s 104-89 win over the Jiangsu Dragons. Mr. Francis didn’t play in the first half.

“It’s the first time in my life that [I] saw a player leave during a match,” said Ducks head coach Min Lulei, Xinhua reported.

“I feel unhappy that I couldn’t play the game. I know I was not well-prepared physically to help the team on court. As the team is in hot form, I think it is best for both sides for me to terminate my contract,” Mr. Francis was quoted as telling Beijing Television on Monday, according to the Associated Press.

Local reports suggested tension with management over Mr. Francis’s missing a team practice Dec. 25 to spend Christmas Day with his family. His first few weeks were also marked by public concerns over his health—he was struggling with a cold—and jetlag adjustment.