UPDATE: Via Twitter, Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) posted this statement from Royce White:
"In hindsight, perhaps it was not a good idea to be open & honest about my anxiety disorder-due to the current situations at hand that involve the nature of actions from the Houston Rockets. As a rookie, I want to settle into a team & make progress; but since preseason the Rockets have been inconsistent w/ their agreement to proactively create a healthy & successful relationship. At this point the Rockets r aware of my position & the reason for my absense. Any other response is inaccurate. This is important to me. It is a health issue. I must advocate for my rights. It is a player-commodity league. The failure to meet my requests for support will end with me being unhealthy & that is not a consequence that I am willing to accept to play any sport."
White tonight has also been tweeting some thoughts via his verified account (@Highway_30)
There's more drama for former Minnesota high school basketball standout and one-time Gopher Royce White.
The Houston Chronicle reports that White, a Rockets rookie who has a history of anxiety issues, missed Tuesday's practice amid the team's plans to send him to the NBA Development League. Teammate Marcus Morris told reporters White has not been at practice for three days.
Coach Kelvin Sampson, filling in for Kevin McHale, said after practice he hadn't spoken with White.
It's the latest in a string of curious events to begin White's professional career after he shined locally in high school and spent a short time with the Gophers before transferring to Iowa State.
Drafted 16th overall by the Rockets this summer, White, 21, missed the start of training camp while he worked out a plan with the team to limit his air travel, which is a trigger for his anxiety.
