With NBA training camps set to begin for the 2020-21 season, the Rockets are making multiple players available each day for interviews.
On Wednesday, Houston’s list included veteran guard Eric Gordon; swingman Gerald Green; and forward Danuel House Jr.
For all three players, it was their first media availability since the 2019-20 season. In the case of House, it represents his first time to answer questions from reporters regarding the controversial incident that led to his early dismissal from the NBA “bubble” and a premature playoff exit.
See below for the highlights of Wednesday’s discussion:
Eric Gordon: "Our core guys are still here, and I still have high expectations going into the season. … No matter what all the outside noise is, when there's a game, I feel like we're going to be ready to play." #Rockets pic.twitter.com/EPCV8CpqNQ
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 2, 2020
Eric Gordon: "Obviously we've been through a lot these last couple months."
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) December 2, 2020
Eric Gordon on Rockets: "Our core guys are still here. I still have high expectations going into the season, no matter what all the outside noise is."
Does he feel James Harden is still on board? "That’s a question you have to ask him. He’s still with our team, so I assume so."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 2, 2020
#Rockets guard Eric Gordon on his health: "Much better than last year."
"Any time you have surgery during the year, it's tough. I was trying to rush back. Last year was just a tough year for me. I definitely expect better."
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 2, 2020
Eric Gordon on what Stephen Silas has planned offensively for the Rockets next season: "He definitely expects a lot of ball movement. He wants to see everyone do well… He wants to maximize everyone on this team."
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) December 2, 2020
Eric Gordon stressed ball movement and said it's worked out well for them in the past: "We're impossible to stop when the ball is moving and everything is flowing."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 2, 2020
Eric Gordon on the whether Danuel House Jr. needs to rebuild trust in the locker room: "No. He just needs to play basketball. … He's just got to come out and play. I wouldn't say that he needs to worry about anything."
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 2, 2020
Danuel House starts presser with an apology for his incident in the bubble. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/QqzENM58L9
— David Nuño (@DavidNunoABC13) December 2, 2020
Danuel House Jr. leads off by apologizing to the team, organization, and owner for "the mishap" at the NBA bubble. Says he sincerely apologizes to the fans, as well, if you feel that he let you down. #Rockets
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 2, 2020
House started with a statement: "First off, I would like to start by apologizing to my team, the organization and the owner…. I'd like to deeply apologize to the fans also if you feel I let you down."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 2, 2020
Other players and coaches are expected to be made available by the team later in the week. For now, training camp activities are all on an individual basis, with players undergoing a period of daily COVID-19 testing before they are allowed to work in close proximity with teammates.
Group work will begin on Sunday, Dec. 6, with all practices taking place at the team’s usual home arena of Toyota Center in downtown Houston. Preseason play for the Rockets opens up on Friday, Dec. 11 in Chicago, while the 2020-21 regular season is set to begin on Dec. 23.
