For the first time in more than a week, the Houston Rockets were nearly at full strength at Wednesday’s practice, thanks to key veterans John Wall, Eric Gordon, and DeMarcus Cousins rejoining the team.
Those three veterans and rookie guard Mason Jones were all subject to a seven-day quarantine, since the NBA determined after contact tracing that they were close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case. However, they consistently tested negative themselves, and they were cleared to rejoin the team in time for Wednesday’s practice at Toyota Center.
Wall will replace David Nwaba in the starting lineup when Houston (0-2) host Sacramento (3-1) on Thursday. Meanwhile, Gordon and Cousins should be key cogs off the bench. For former All-Stars Wall and Cousins, who each missed last season due to injury, it will serve as their Rockets debut and their first regular-season game action since 2018-19.
As of now, the only expected rotation player to remain absent is reserve guard Ben McLemore, who tested positive for COVID-19. His positive result gives him a longer timeline to rejoin teammates than those who are quarantined (but testing negative) after possible exposure.
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After Wednesday’s practice, Wall, Cousins, and head coach Stephen Silas were made available to the media for interviews. Here’s a sampling of what each had to say after a frustrating week away from the team.