Houston, TX (Best E Casino) - Houston Rockets guard Steve Francis, who has been sidelined since late December with what was originally diagnosed as bi- lateral quadriceps tendonitis, will reportedly undergo season-ending surgery.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the team is expected to make an official announcement concerning Francis' status Thursday. Francis visited a specialist in Colorado last week, and a tear in the quadriceps that would require surgical repair was discovered.

Francis, a 10-year NBA veteran, averaged just 5.5 points and three assists in 10 games with the Rockets this season - his first of a second stint in Houston.

The Maryland product was traded to Portland from the New York Knicks along with Channing Frye in exchange for Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau and Fred Jones in a draft night deal last June. The Trail Blazers bought out the remaining two years of Francis' contract for almost the full price, paying more than $30 million of the $34 million owed to Francis over the next two years.

The former All-Star became a free agent after he cleared waivers, and was signed by the Rockets. Francis averaged 11.3 points per game in New York last season, well below his career average of 18.4 points per game. He initially played for Houston from 1999-2004.