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Houston Rockets point guard Rod Strickland recently signed with the team as a free agent for his first action of the 2004-05 season. For his career, Strickland has averaged 13.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.49 steals per game. This is his 17th season as an NBA player. InsideHoops.com met with Strickland in Madison Square Garden on January 21 for an exclusive interview.

InsideHoops.com: What have you been up to since last season?

Rod Strickland: This summer I was working out a little bit, time to time. Was with my kids, with my family, and that's basically it. Trying to stay in some kind of shape.

InsideHoops.com: Where's your home these days?

Rod Strickland: Maryland. I love it. I ain't going nowhere. I'm staying right there.

InsideHoops.com: How'd you wind up staying there for good?

Rod Strickland: My mother's from Baltimore, and I played in D.C., so I basically had roots there, so I just stayed there.

InsideHoops.com: When did the Rockets first contact you?

Rod Strickland: Well, we'd been talking for a while. We basically contacted them at first, throughout the season, and nothing really came of it. And then all of a sudden I got a call from them, there was some interest. I went down there, worked out, didn't feel I was in the best of shape, worked out a little more, and they brought me in.

InsideHoops.com: When did they bring you in for that first workout?

Rod Strickland: It was Friday (January 14, 2005).

InsideHoops.com: So things went well, but you were a little out of shape.

Rod Strickland: I was out of shape, yeah. Then they had me working out with John Lucas for a few days. Had some two-a-days. They've been working me out. I rode the trademill 45 minutes today before the game. So right now it's a struggle, but it'll take me a week or two, body will feel good, I'll have my burst, and I'll be fine.

InsideHoops.com: And this is a good situation for you, because this team needed a point guard.

Rod Strickland: Yeah. It's basically just a matter of me getting into shape, learning the plays; I'm looking forward to having some practices, because that's what I need.