WHEN ROBERT Covington went undrafted after four productive seasons at Tennessee State, he wasn't sure where his future in basketball may take him. Most assuredly he didn't have in his mind that Rio Grand Valley, Texas would be his stepping-stone to the NBA.
After signing a contract with the Rockets in the summer of 2013, Covington yo-yoed between Houston and the Rio Grand Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League for the entire season. He was sent down to the Vipers six times before being waived just before the 2014-15 season began.
He played only seven games, totaling 34 minutes in Houston, so scouts didn't get a read on his NBA game.