Royce White Makes 68-Hour Roundtrip RV Ride for 2 D-League Games

Royce White's fear of flying is well documented, and while it's not necessarily the thing that's kept him out of the NBA, it is certainly a giant obstacle to his development.

The Houston Rockets rookie forward showed his oft-questioned commitment to the franchise and their Developmental League team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, over the weekend.

To avoid flying, White and a driving crew traveled 68 hours round trip by RV for just two games, h/t Rich Bucher.  He traveled from HIdalgo, Texas to play in Santa Cruz, Calif. for games on March 1 and 2.

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Royce White is making the 34-hour drive in an RV because of his anxiety issues to play this for the Vipers and then turning around and making the 34-hour drive right back. Word in Vipers' circles is that his nickname is now "Winnebago." Word also is that he has multiple drivers to keep the RV rolling but that it's still, basically, a week-long adventure to play one minor-league game. 

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White's Vipers split the pair of games.  The Vipers dominated the Santa Cruz Warriors on Friday night, 131-100, but fell to the Warriors on Saturday, 130-112.

White was far from dominant, but he made even, solid contributions in both contests.  He had seven points —on just four shots — and six boards in the first game.  He again finished with seven points on seven shots while reeling in just two boards in Saturday's loss. 

Oh, and he was booted from Saturday's game with just five minutes to go:

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Royce White has received his second technical foul and has been ejected from the game.

— Santa Cruz Warriors (@DLeagueWarriors) March 3, 2013"

Perhaps the extended travel got him irritable, or maybe he was just upset with the outcome of the game. All I know is a 34-hour drive home after getting tossed from a game probably isn't the best way to follow up a loss.

White was suspended by the Rockets back on Jan. 6 for twice refusing to report to the Vipers in the NBA Developmental League.

He was reinstated by the Rockets organization on Jan. 26 and reported to the Vipers Feb. 11.