Royce White to Re-Join the Houston Rockets, Will Travel By Bus

The Houston Rockets and rookie forward Royce White have reached an agreement, and the “innovative” plan will allow White to take part in the team’s training camp. The Rockets agreed to let Royce travel by bus to games, due to his fear of flying. Per the Houston Chronicle: “Royce White said he will join the Rockets for practice Monday in Houston, citing the team’s blessing to travel to a large part of the season’s schedule by bus as part of his plan to manage his mental illness. The Rockets, he said, were willing to put their agreement in writing and to even have it included in his contract, but because contracts are subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, it could be a long process to gain approval from the NBA and the NBA Players Association for a unique addendum to the standard league contract. ‘We’ll go forward in a good faith deal between me and Rockets, and I’m totally comfortable with that,’ said White, who has been absent from camp. ‘We can find a way to get it into writing at some point. We do have a letter between us. It’s an agreement, not in contract form, but those are technicalities. What the Rockets are doing is astronomically appreciated by me and should be by the mental health community.’ White has battled Generalized Anxiety Disorder in which concerns about an issue, such as his fear of flying, can often spread to a more general and increasing anxiety on unrelated matters. He has suffered from panic attacks and obsessive compulsive tendencies. Uncertainty can lead to dramatic increases in symptoms but in each case, he can treat the disorder by heading off anxiety. White said he will supply the bus he will use for much of the season’s travel, calling overnight trips of up to nine hours ‘no problem at all.'”