Rockets rookie Royce White suffers from generalized anxiety disorder. (Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Rockets rookie forward Royce White said he is close to returning to the team and agreeing to a D-League assignment. A person with knowledge of the plan told the Houston Chronicle the Rockets are close to announcing White’s return and a written agreement that will include protocols concerning his generalized anxiety disorder as part of an addendum to his contract.

The Rockets suspended White indefinitely on Jan. 6 one week after he refused an assignment to the team’s D-League affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

White, the 16th pick of the 2012 NBA draft, left the team on Nov. 12, claiming the Rocket were inconsistent in supporting his anxiety disorder. White accused the Rockets of failing to provide a safe workplace and said he was unlikely to play in the NBA.

White said on a 97.9 FM morning show Wednesday that he plans to report on Feb. 11:

“The resolution, when I say we’re in the 12^th hour, what I literally mean is we’re in the 12^th hour ..  .. any hour now this thing will be over,” White said. “I’m supposed to be returning to the D-league on February 11. That was the plan. We’ll see if it finally goes through but last thing I heard was that’s what we’re going to do, that’s what we’re planning to do. Waiting on everybody to get the right paperwork done and stuff.

“Everybody wants to make it seem like wild, wild west standoff between me and the Rockets. That’s not the case here. There has been an issue that’s been identified. Mental health is not descriptive enough in CBA (collective bargaining agreement) and UPC (uniform player contract.) It being so vague makes us make it up as we go. There’s no protocol. We need to rectify that to make sure the environment is safe. If we’re making it up as we go, … that’s probably not the safest thing.”

Royce White will explain how he wants the Rockets to handle his mental health issues during an HBO interview set to air on Tuesday. (Brian Babineau/Getty Images)

In an interview for “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” that will air on Tuesday, suspended Rockets rookie Royce White said that he wants the team to hire a physician to determine whether his mental health disorders will allow him to play each day based.

The embattled forward has made headlines throughout the season for his criticism of the Rockets for their handling of his anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders. He was suspended on Jan. 6 after refusing to report to the D-League.

The interview with Real Sports corespondent Bernard Goldberg, detailed by the Houston Chronicle‘s David Barron, represents the first time he has clarified the specific stipulations he would like the team to add to his contract.

“I want a medical point person that will remain neutral and keep the interest in health,” White told Goldberg.

Asked if that meant the doctor could determine that White’s anxiety disorder would not allow him to play, for example, in a game against the Lakers, “Then I can’t play against the Lakers,” he said.

“Just like if your orthopedist says, ‘Royce’s left toe has a crack in it and he shouldn’t run or jump against the Lakers tonight,’ then I can’t run or jump against the Lakers tonight.”

White added that he would be “risking his life” if he played without the protocols he explained.

“What comes along with mental health that goes untreated? Alcohol abuse. Marijuana abuse. Suicidal behavior. Homicidal behavior. Those are things I’m not willing to risk to play basketball, to have money, to have fame.”

Rockets rookie Royce White says he won’t report to team’s D-League squad. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets rookie forward Royce White refused to report to his NBA Development League assignment on Sunday, releasing a statement accusing the team of creating an “unsafe” atmosphere of team officials that make mental health calls.

On Saturday, White was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets D-League team, so he begin a process of getting on the court. White has not played this season after being selected with the 16th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2012 Draft. White has been dealing with well-documented anxiety issues.

Part of the White’s statement reads: 

However, it saddens and frightens me to know that in this situation all the decision makers involved have been informed of all the medical dynamics, and yet still refuse to adhere to medical sensibility. In hindsight of the recent tragedies in this country, that had mental illness variables, you would think it would encourage people to act more proactively in that arena. You would think that decision makers who are not well informed about mental health, would take the consultation and recommendation of those who are. You would think we would start to do everything possible to not let the tragic consequences befall us first, before we ask the logical question, “why?”, “who knew?” “how could we have helped?. Why not take a proactive approach of “who knows?” “how can we listen?”, “how can we support now?”

I do wish to play, but I only intend to do so with the collaboration and recommendation of trained professionals. The purpose of a doctor’s confirmation is to ensure that health decisions are made in the sole interest of health and not conflicted with business. My only hope is that decision makers involved realize that doctors are the only logical source to decide action.

The Rockets and their 2012 draft pick Royce White have been at odds for weeks now. White has repeatedly claimed that the Rockets are holding his anxiety disorder against him and not supporting him.

While #anxiety is the issue, the main piece of that isn't AIRPLANES, it's asking for support 4 my disorder thats consistent and fair.

—
Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012

He’s also claimed the Rockets are using his anxiety to keep him off the court, while the Rockets management has said that the other players have earned their playing time and White has not.

The 6-foot-8 White was expected to be a wildcard pick in the 2012 draft because of his anxiety. Now the team has demoted White to the D-league after he allegedly skipped a practice without warning, although White has tweeted against that claim as well:

I informed the #Rockets of every practice I was going to miss. There were no unexplained misses.

—
Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012

I'm most defiantly not AWOL... There are many things here ppl don't know, #Honesty is what I'm sticking with. @HoustonRockets "Luke 12:3"

—
Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012

With all the back-and-forth between the team and White, it seems unlikely that these differences will be resolved soon.

Rockets rookie Royce White says the team has been “inconsistent” with an agreement “to proactively create a healthy and successful relationship” due to anxiety issues. Nick Laham/Getty Images

The continuing saga of Houston Rockets rookie Royce White took another turn on Tuesday when first the team sent him to the NBA’s D-League and then White released a statement saying that the team has been “inconsistent” with an agreement “to proactively create a healthy and successful relationship,” reports NBA.com.

White, who was drafted 16th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, has a history of anxiety issues and has not played this season.

White said in a statement that the team is “aware of my position and the reason for my absence, any other response is inaccurate and says lack of support will make him unhealthy and that is not a consequence that I am willing to accept to play any sport.”

“In hindsight, perhaps it was not a good idea to be open….honest about my anxiety disorder due to the current situations at hand,” White said.

The Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday that White missed practice when he learned he was going to be sent to the NBA Development League. Rockets teammate Marcus Morris told the paper that White has not been at practice for the past three days.

In statement, @Highway_30 says Rockets have been "inconsistent" w/agreement "to proactively create a healthy and successful relationship."—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) November 14, 2012

I'm most defiantly not AWOL… There are many things here ppl don't know, #Honesty is what I'm sticking with. @HoustonRockets "Luke 12:3"—
Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012

Royce White refuses to join the Rockets until a long-term health plan is in place for his anxiety disorder. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Houston Rockets’ first round draft pick, Royce White out of Iowa State, said he refuses to join the Rockets until a “long-term health” plan is in place for his anxiety disorder. But he hopes to be back in a week, that is if he can square away a deal to travel by bus for certain games as a way to alleviate his fear of flying, according to Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com:

“What it’s going to look like is every game that’s drivable, I’m going to get a bus for myself,” White said. “And I’m going to make that bus feel like home so that there’s a level of consistency in a job where inconsistency is very apparent because of the schedule. I’m going to try and level that out and make sure that my stress levels stay low and that my rest is regular and that my meals are regular and that as much as I can, draw consistency from a very inconsistent schedule.”

White is willing to purchase the bus himself and assume all liability.

Head coach Kevin McHale said on Monday when White was absent for a media day that he has “no idea” when the former All-American will be back. General manager Daryl Morey said the team is committed to the long-term health of White but gave no timetable for when such a deal would be in place.

White said he’s asking the Rockets organization to help him with his health because he fears “serious consequences” if he doesn’t address his issues now:

“It causes me anxiety to know that serious consequences could happen if I do not express what I deal with, or if I am not truthful enough to ask for what I need to be healthy. For me, hiding is no longer a healthy option in treating my anxiety or OCD, so I have asked for some help from the organization to ensure long-term health for myself.

The Rocket’s 16th pick in this years draft, Royce White, remains absent from the team because of an anxiety disorder. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Houston Rockets’ first round draft pick, Royce White out of Iowa State, is absent from training camp as he deals with an anxiety issue that includes a fear of flying on airplanes, according to The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen.

The team said his absence is due to a “personnel matter” and head coach Kevin McHale said he has “no idea” when the former All-American will return:

“He needs to be here,” McHale said. “There’s no question.”

White, who was selected No. 16 in this years draft, had reportedly joked about his fear of flying with the media last month during team workouts. He confirmed at that time that he and his doctors are working on a plan with the Rockets to deal with his anxiety issues. White did not give a reason as to why that plan is still not solidified and would not give a timetable for dealing with the issue to the extent that he is able to join the team. Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey didn’t offer much insight into the situation other than to say that “it’s always better to be here than not” and that the organization is committed to White’s long-term success.

The Rockets kick off their season with a game on Halloween on the road against the Detroit Pistons.

Chad Ford of ESPN.com tweets that Iowa State forward Royce White has canceled his remaining workouts (White’s agent confirms this) in advance of next week’s NBA Draft, which usually means that the player has a promise to be taken at a certain slot.

Looks like a team may have promised Royce White. He's pulled out of all remaining workouts and gone silent. Not injured.—
Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 22, 2012

Ford guessed that the Boston Celtics (picks 21 and 22) or the Atlanta Hawks (pick 23) could be the interested party, and then offered something stronger:

More on Royce White. Now hearing more definitely promise is from Celtics at 21.—
Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 22, 2012

But SI.com’s Sam Amick is hearing otherwise:

Source says Iowa State F Royce White does not have a promise from Boston.—
Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 22, 2012

In his latest mock draft, Amick has White going to the Denver Nuggets just ahead of the Celtics and Hawks, at No. 20.

White’s well-documented fear of flying evidently isn’t going to keep the multi-talented big man out of the first round.

Iowa State’s Royce White will sign with an agent and enter the NBA draft, according to CBS Sports. An official announcement from the school is expected today.

SCOOP: Iowa State's Royce White will sign with an agent and is headed to the NBA, source told CBSSports.com -- cbssports.com/collegebasketb…

—
Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanCBS) March 21, 2012

White, technically a sophomore, averaged 13.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in his first full season of action. The low post presence was forced to sit out the 2009-10 season at Minnesota due to legal issues and he missed all of 2010-11 after transferring to Iowa State.

White, who stands at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, is projected by some to be taken in the late first round.