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

He wont say it because it will seem ridiculous to everyone. Its most likely food accommodations, apartment/hotel (anti-OCD) lifestyle that people will flame him for requesting. That's why he's not disclosing specifics. He's smart enough to know he's going to get flamed publicly for it.

 

I hate to be crass but if what you're saying is true then all he needs is a babysitter.

He's trying to that passive-agressive route because while he's never said he refuses to play, his reluctance to show up to assigned duties tells a different story.

Well someone on the Rockets staff that's assisting him needs to ask him: What makes the TC safe and the D-League unsafe? Why were you able to play games at other universities but cannot do so at the pro level? If he can't accept the demotion, then that goes into something I'll get into later.....

This is my OWN personal feeling: The Rockets are doing a lot (more than they need to in my opinion) because of what happened with Eddie Griffin. Les and JVG could have tried to do more for Griffin and his own personal issues but they just casted him away and *boom* he kills himself. They don't want to just call it quits on White (1st Rounder be damned) because they can still help him. Les don't want his organization to be THAT team that had two mentally disturbed players and did nothing but all they could to help them.

I'm going to go out on a limb and just say that Royce White has anxiety issues (no stretch there) but it has magnified and manifested into something different--the dude is still a kid mentally. Not just a fresh-out-of-college type of kid but an infant that needs to have it his way or he'll go into a temper tantrum, an infant that wants his parents (i.e. the organization) to understand him but doesn't bother to tell them how that can be done, and an infant that can't handle (or hasn't be shown in his life up until now) rejection/demotion. He's a bright dude but that doesn't excuse him from having these neuropathic childish episodes. If that's the case, then Royce White, anxiety disorder sufferer, might be Royce White, personality disorder sufferer.

 

"I never refused not to play" technically is the double negative equivalent of "I refused to play."

 

In one of the pre-season games White played, there was this play where he made a sloppy pass to Lin that resulted in a TO as the ball was stolen by the opponent. Lin raced down the court with the opponent on his fast break and was able to force him to alter the shot and miss the basket. Had White followed them and rebounded the miss, he could've/would've made up for his TO by regaining possession. Instead, he just stood at the half-court, and another opp player who also raced down the court got the offensive rebound and made the easy basket.

I know that was just one single isolated play, but I feel there was this air of arrogance in White's play, which lacked the extra effort rookies usually put in.

I don't mean to be insensitive to those affected by mental illness, but with everything that's going on with White, I can't help but feel that he thinks he's entitled to whatever he wants because of his talent and mental illness.

 

I get that this guy is troubled, but it is hard not to be angry at a guy who has a standing offer to play a game for 1.6m/ year (without regard to outcome) and can't do the single thing required of him - play the fscking game... I won't make 1.6m in the next 10 years.

 

It seems to me that if he is smart enough to know his demands are ridiculous, he ought to also know they cant be met.

And if they are not ridiculous, then he shouldn't have any problem disclosing them.

I think statements like “To portray that the Rockets have been supportive to me is fundamentally incorrect.” just shows how out of touch he is with the real world, and more to point, that working for the NBA is a job. And that job carries certain responsibilities. If you cant meet them, you shouldn't have taken the job. It not up to the employee to make demands and then when there not met, imply its the employers fault.

I dont blame White for his anxiety. Not at all. But he needs to get a handle on what he is able to do and find those careers that fit within his constraints.

 

i support rw...patience is what is needed...

 

He already told us. He doesn't have anxiety consistently. It's not about flying. It's about protocol. He's holding out until he's satisfied with the system in place. It's not about what is happening, but what could happen.

How is he losing money? The fines stopped, as far as i know.

Let's put two and two together. If it's not about money and he truly sees the NBA with that kind of fear, then he'd retire. He can always come back, if he wants. What's the difference between retiring and not? Money. He's got his followers. He has a voice. I'm sure lots of doctors/programs would jump at the chance to say they treated Royce White effectively, so medical care should be available to him either way.

The only thing that changes is he gives up his paycheck. The right thing to do is bow out until he's got a better grip on his illness. He can't function as a player like this.

 

I think you are correct. Most women do not say "I never refused not to have sex" they say "I never refused to have sex."

But I'm a little foggy on this. Women saying this stuff was the years before I negotiated my "protocol" for "playing time." #nowitseasy #onenighttroopers

 

with his statement, is Royce White hinting that he might go "Postal" on the Rockets in the future?

 

Nobody can go "postal" in the NBA. Stern enforces this with snipers.

 

Nah, i dont think that's it. He already has his bus. He can just live in there and never change beds. He should be able to store groceries in there and cook to his liking. I actually think it would be easier for him in the dleague than in the NBA.

 

Well please excuse the rest of us, your highness.

 

I was really happy when the Rockets drafted Royce. I was intrigued by the way he played in college and thought that his mental issues would give him an edge not a handicap. I still think that could be the case, if he allows it too.

My impression on this situation is that Royce has an agenda, and one that I even agree with, which is to educate people about mental issues and have society be more cognizant of people with those issues and to take them into account -- however, he is going about this entirely wrong if that is is motivation. He is not dispelling the stigma, but rather confirming and calcifying it. I think he is trying to be a test case and to set a precedent for how employers treat people with mental illness, but he is instead making it less likely that an employer aware of this case would ever take the trouble to hire someone with mental issues.

What he should do is his best - just like he did in college. He should give the sincere effort to work (play) for the team and show what people with mental issues are capable of. He should show that they are hard working people like everyone else and that their unique perspective on the world is an asset to be valued.

What would he be doing if he was not in the NBA? How would he make a living? How was he able to be so successful in Iowa State? He can do better than this, which means his actions are either misguided or purely selfish and lazy -- either way he is having the exact opposite effect than what he claims he intended.

 

Was he guaranteed a starting job or minutes in Iowa?

 

He was so good compared to the rest of the talent there it wasn't even a question.

 

Well I am perhaps one of a few that were not a fan of his by draft night.
I was meh. Skilled but another undersized disguised PF I thought.
Never could I imagine what happened afterwards.

I wish him good luck and that the Rockets give him a fair chance but long term it is for both sides to move on from each other.

 

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q103

Don't know if the suspension is automatic or what. But I think the bottom line is, you don't get paid if you "refuse to go to work". In his own word.

 

I think its time to cut ties with this guy and just move on.

 

he is making Twill look like a saint