The Steve Francis Pandemic, AKA Players That Abrubtly... Disappeared

Symptoms of the unfortunate disease:
 
Declining and retiring is forgone. Usually a chain of mishaps occur.  Amidst your prime or development, you fall off the face of the planet. Rapid decline. Banishment from the league. (Joking.)

The Origin, Steve Francis

Right off the bat he was met with controversy when drafted.

He enjoyed several seasons under the rockets along with best friend Cuttino Mobley. The arrival of Yao Ming brought promise but Francis was ultimately traded because of friction with then head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

After a slew of injuries and an eventual trade to New York Stevie would never be the same.

His rookie season. 18 points, 6.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds. 1.5 steals.
His best season. 21.3 points, 7 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals.

Three time All-Star
Co-Rookie of the Year
Incredible Dunker

Fell off the face of the planet.

Other recorded accounts of the disease.

Michael Sweetney

Georgetown product, standout, Michael Sweetney. He averaged 18 points and shot 55 percent in three years at college.

He was drafted ninth overall by the New York Knickerbockers in 2003. (You know; the infamous draft with Lebron, Melo and Darko)

After two seasons he was traded to Chicago and was eventually put in the doghouse for conditioning issues.

Through his four year NBA career he averaged 8 points and 5 boards.

Fell off the face of the planet.

Eddy Curry

The New York Knicks seem to be an occuring theme.

Drafted fourth overall in 2001. He too was a tad overweight. He was a part of Chicago's notable return to the NBA playoffs. He was subsequently traded to New York due to a heart condition. (Gasp)

His best season with the Knicks consisted of a line of
19.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and a field goal percentage of 57.6.

Injuries hampered his further development as he only played 52 games the past two seasons.

Donnie Walsh tried to "showcase" Curry's talents of not being able to run up and down the court.

Fell off the face of the planet and became a planet of his own because of his gravitational pull.

Kerry Kittles

He spent his first seven years in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets. He was a part of their finals runs and played the two guard.

Through his stint with the Nets he averaged fairly in the mid teens and about 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Following a very short injury riddled season with Clippers, Kittles left the club.

Fell off the face of the planet. (Almost. He just went to the Clips.)

Now... you may agree or may not agree with me on this but in the end we all hate to see our favorite players be hindered by injuries. What's even worse is when they pull a Steve Francis. That being said, who is your Steve Francis?