Royce White, Rockets At Odds Over Anxiety Disorder: Houston Rookie Makes Case On Twitter

Rockets Rookie: 'I'm Not AWOL'
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 21: Royce White #30 of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait during the 2012 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at the MSG Training Center on August 21, 2012 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 21: Royce White #30 of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait during the 2012 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at the MSG Training Center on August 21, 2012 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Royce White and the Houston Rockets appear to be having a communication problem. Both parties have been talking about the other but apparently they have not been quite successful in dealing with one another.

The No. 16 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, White insists the Rockets have been "inconsistent" in their efforts to help him begin his career while coping with his anxiety disorder.

"In hindsight, perhaps it was not a good idea to be open and honest about my anxiety disorder - due to the current situations at hand that involve the nature of actions from the Houston Rockets," White said in a statement released to The Associated Press and various media outlets on Tuesday night. "As a rookie, I want to settle into a team and make progress; but since preseason, the Rockets have been inconsistent with their agreement to proactively create a healthy and successful relationship."

White's statement came on the heels of a report in the Houston Chronicle that White had been missing practice. According to the Houston Chronicle, a person with knowledge of the situation stated that White was absent from the Rockets' game on Monday and then practice on Tuesday without permission from the club.

White, who missed the first few days of training camp due to his anxiety issues, was reportedly being demoted to the D-League, per Sports Illustrated. But a press release from the team on Wednesday only indicated that rookies Scott Machado and Donatas Motiejunas were headed for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

In his own statement on White released to NBA.com, Rockets general manager Darly Morey stated that "We are committed to his long term success and we will continue to support him now and going forward."

Amidst the statements and reports, White took to Twitter to directly address his situation with the Rockets as well as his experience with mental illness. He strong refutes the report that he has been racking up unexcused absences.

MORE FROM THE ASSOCIATES PRESS:

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston rookie Royce White remains absent from the team in a dispute over how the Rockets are helping him confront his anxiety disorder.

The 6-foot-8 White, the 16th overall pick in the 2012 draft, made a deal with the team to travel by bus to some games this season, so he could confront his fear of flying and obsessive compulsive disorder over the long term. He flew with the team to its season opener in Detroit, then traveled by bus to games at Atlanta and Memphis.

White, who's yet to play in a game, did not attend Monday's game against Miami, Tuesday's practice or the shootaround in advance of Wednesday night's game with New Orleans. He says on his Twitter account that the Rockets have been "inconsistent" in helping him.

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