Royce White refuses assignment to D-League (UPDATE: Rockets suspend him)

I agree with you, JJ23.

Royce White managed to deal with his anxiety issues in college without serious problems. But again, a college environment is not the NBA. Often times in the NBA, you're thrown into the deep end of the pool and you sink or swim on your own. Actually, a player/mentor relationship (one of the lost traditions of the NBA of yesteryear) would be one of those things I could see help Royce out a great deal. I imagine some accommodation may have be proposed along those lines...but it is unfortunately the exception, rather than the rule.

Iowa State, I'm sure, could and most probably did accomodate Royce in ways that, while may be workable for the NBA, are not going to be practical over the long haul.

Shaquille O'Neal said something memorable about how he was officiated during his playing career recently. He acknowledged that, because he was the only player of his kind (sheer size and brute power with more skill and agility than people gave him credit for), the league was not going to do things that made things comfortable for him and ignore the concerns of everyone else.

O'Neal was the guy who was different. So he had to be the guy who had to adjust the most.

I wasn't suggesting that the Rockets seek a trade involving Royce. At least, not exclusively as a way to remove him and the organization from a situation that's worsening by the day.

We are all, at some level in a civilized society, responsible for one another's well-being. But each one of us must do as much as we are able to be responsible for ourselves and the obligations and responsibilities we take on.

I just think a step away from this for both parties (as a basketball matter) would be the most effective tactic. There may be no need, from management's view, to hurry any transition for Royce along. But the PR mess is becoming painful, after being merely a novelty in the beginning.

I seriously doubt that the Rockets' intentions are to make Royce look like a bad guy. I don't know if Royce believes that about the Rockets, although I understand that his past has forced his illness to more-or-less manifest itself into these patterns of behavior where trust is concerned.

Again, an NBA court is not the place to hold this forum, in my opinion, JJ23.

Call me crazy...

 

The Rockets should be nice to Royce White but firm...

They should listen to his doctors and provide the help that is necessary..

They should not be angry or bash him in the media.. they shouldn't even really discuss the matter beyond stating they are standing behind him....

Ohhh.... and they should fine his ass for every day he does not report to the D-League....... and the fine should be close to what he is making from the Rockets on a weekly basis.....

Then we will see how insane he is....

 

Yeah time to suspend him without pay until he cooperates.

**** the players union at this point.

 

I dont think we really want to go here do we???

But the answer to your question would probably be yes. At least a hunting rifle should be easy to obtain in many red states without a felony on his record. Then you look at the mental health issues... the NRA would have a field day if Washington passed a law that kept anyone with GAD or OCD from owning a firearm. Plus, there really is no way to keep tabs on who has a disorder and who does not. Most of the population still go undiagnosed.

 

When he's out of the NBA, IMO he'll have nowhere to go. His illness would probably kill any chance of playing overseas (culture shock), he won't be able to deal with the tough life of semi-pro ball, and he doesn't even have a college degree. He better hope he can keep his signing bonus, because mental healthcare ain't cheap.

 

I was just watching Royce White On YouTube From the summer league Games. He's very impressive Handling the point forward position.

 

fact that he is retweeting every attack on him is quite bizarre. I think they must affect him a lot. There's a lot going on he's not talking about.

Maybe the truth is he's scared of death of the NBA and having to prove himself...maybe he doesn't think he can really do it and this is his way of dealing with it.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Funny, headlines read "Royce refuses D-League assignment." NO! I refuse to go to work period. UNSAFE for just anyone to make medical calls.</p>&mdash; Royce White (@Highway_30) <a href="https://twitter.com/Highway_30/status/285812991021170688" data-datetime="2012-12-31T18:21:41+00:00">December 31, 2012</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I will play for the Vipers, Rockets or anyone else as soon as the protocol recommended by the team doctors is implemented. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Progress">#Progress</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23BeWell">#BeWell</a></p>&mdash; Royce White (@Highway_30) <a href="https://twitter.com/Highway_30/status/285635730921910272" data-datetime="2012-12-31T06:37:19+00:00">December 31, 2012</a></blockquote>
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looking more positive? (depending what team doctors' protocols are?)

 

Fine him and send his salary to mental health research. Now wouldn't that be something.

 

I wish Royce would be honest with his PR blasts... why can't he just say, "I had another panic attack, and it's because I'm anxious about the D-league assignment. Let's try again in 2 weeks, but I'll keep practicing at the Toyota Center." Every setback has to be accompanied with a martyr-complex explanation, and most fans have no patience for that, even when they would root for him and wish him success.

Anxiety or no anxiety, he is clearly too young and immature to deal with this. He is clearly smarter than your average NBA player, so I still have hope that he'll get over this.

BTW, based on the Rockets unbelievable restraint in this situation, I now fully believe everything the Rockets say, and nothing that Royce says.

 

Yeah, and the other sad thing is the current Rockets' offense is designed for him. How can he not want to play? He's over-thinking life, when in fact, using the podium of success on the court could get his "protocol" put in place much faster.

 

He did this for a year at Minnesota before being successful at Iowa State.

Maybe he just needs to get it out of his system.

 

There is no legal requirement (nor court precedent) for an employer to grant the exact accommodation requested by an employee. The fact that the Rockets have worked this extensively with Royce places them on firm legal footing.

The Rockets, by all "objective" measures, appear to be patient, supportive, and willing to provide a workable accommodation for all involved. Despite what Royce may think.

He's an immature 21 year old kid with additional mental issues beyond being a 21 year old immature kid. Doesn't excuse him, but I understand.

The catch is, I think, and I believe the Rockets think, he has a set of skills that are worth the patience and BS.

 

He said that he hasn't had an anxiety attack since he was 18 years old, and that it has not been a factor throughout this whole process. That's another reason why all of this is so frustrating.

 

What's this protocol he keeps mentioning.

 

He won't go into specifics, which makes me think it would be pretty controversial if it got out.

 

Note completely sure, but I think it is a "protocol" that becomes written into NBA healthcare benefits to support anyone, not just him.

 

While I feel the Rockets are playing their cards just right, its just not realistic to get the fans to ignore him and not react to his antics. Maybe it will wane some over time, but too many either have a vested interest in wanting the Rockets to succeed and see White as a obstacle or distraction or just cant resist reacting either in support or condemnation.

While McHales comment "Out of sight, out of mind" may apply where it comes to our team (mostly), but White makes sure he is always in the minds of the fans and critics and has thus far succeeded very well in this.

I do think over time, he will polarize his fan base and most of them will either go silent or join the opposition camp. The question is, how much time does this require? Assuming a stalemate develops and the Rockets refuse to put an end to it (cut him or void his contract), I think it will be late spring or summer before everyone is too tired of it to participate any longer. Just a guess.

If the Rockets fine him in amounts equal to or greater than his earnings, White's effective income will either become zero or negative. This may motivate him to either cut ties or straiten up. I think the Rockets would rather White make a final declaration to his status than they would. So again, I agree with the Rockets strategy. It just may take some time to mature.

 

I still can't get over the fact that the guy refuses to show up for work and he still gets paid. I'm sure we all wish we could get away with that.

 

I saw one report regarding his fine amounts that suggested he is/was being fined a greater amount than his salary, so I am not so sure he is getting paid in the sense of actually getting the money.