Royce White

We'll be discussing the Royce White issue in the next soon-to-be-recorded podcast (Jan 7 or Jan 8), and we wanted to gauge the community's thoughts on this before the podcast so that we get your voice heard.

We'll be reserving our opinions for the podcast, but share yours here, and we'll make sure it gets heard.

I personally can't stand when I see comments on this matter calling Royce White a crybaby, saying Houston wasted their pick, etc.

Am I the only one that looks at this situation at a much bigger perspective, a perspective bigger than basketball? Mental illness in general is a serious problem. I know there's a lot of people from a lot of different countries on these forums, so I can't speak for you, but in the united states; I feel like the topic of mental illness just gets swept under the rug. We've had so many shootings in our country, tons of which are related to mental problems, except no one addresses the topic. People point their fingers and blame everything else. Blame video games, blame movies, etc. The fact is the system is broken and there just isn't enough support for those with mental illness in our country.

Now I know the mentioning of shootings is a far larger problem than this back and forth between Royce White and the Rockets, but I think that's kind of the point that White is trying to get across at this point. I think Royce wants to play basketball, but I'm starting to get the impression that he'd rather address the lack of protocol for those with mental illness in the NBA. I'm seriously starting to think that he'd get more pleasure out of helping install a system to prevent situations like this in the future than have a career as a player.

I don't know if it's true or not, but from what I've read; there isn't enough medical involvement with the team. This isn't a situation for the GM or a coach to handle. This is something that needs to be dealt with by medical professionals.

That's just my opinion.

It's an unfortunate situation for both Royce White and the Rockets, but hopefully some good will come out of it eventually.

The latest, for those who haven't seen it: Rockets suspend F Royce White.

I think Royce wants to play basketball, but I'm starting to get the impression that he'd rather address the lack of protocol for those with mental illness in the NBA. I'm seriously starting to think that he'd get more pleasure out of helping install a system to prevent situations like this in the future than have a career as a player.

He sure has a bad way of doing it by not fulfilling his contractual obligations to the team, a contract that he willingly agreed to.

I don't know if it's true or not, but from what I've read; there isn't enough medical involvement with the team. This isn't a situation for the GM or a coach to handle. This is something that needs to be dealt with by medical professionals.

Hard for medical involvement to be present when Royce White does not want to meet the medical professional the Rockets picked to be assigned to him which he agreed to as a condition of signing that contract with the Rockets.

I think Royce wants to play basketball, but I'm starting to get the impression that he'd rather address the lack of protocol for those with mental illness in the NBA. I'm seriously starting to think that he'd get more pleasure out of helping install a system to prevent situations like this in the future than have a career as a player.

He sure has a bad way of doing it by not fulfilling his contractual obligations to the team, a contract that he willingly agreed to.

Like i said, I don't know the details nor do I know what areas Royce White feels like the organization has failed to deliver on. I don't think anyone on these forums knows exactly what was included in his contract.

I don't think anyone on these forums knows exactly what was included in his contract.

iirc earlier reports when the issue popped up and when Royce started ranting on Twitter.
Of course no one exactly knows except between Royce and his people and the Rockets. If we're going with that then this thread will be mostly based on reports, opinions, and assumptions making this thread as useful as discussing if Jeremy Lin is Asian.
Same way people are discussing about the Lakers troubles in the Lakers thread, what's the point of it since none of us are in the team?

You're right, someone lock this thread.



I don't know, I think there is plenty to talk about. I just get annoyed when people immediately jump to one side without knowing anything about the situation. I get even more annoyed when they then proceed to bash the opposing side.

I agree with airBerlin that there is definitely a larger issue of mental illness in sports to consider. But if we are talking about White's situation in particular, I don't think he has gone the right way about trying to promote awareness at all.

As shadowgrim mentioned, if there are provisions in his contract that were meant to help him address these issues, or at least aid in that cause, and he agreed to said contract implying he was happy with the provisions, then why is he backing away from it now. Rather than making seem like he in championing a cause, it makes him seem like a spoiled brat, and seeing how many professional athletes have been acting lately it would be no surprise that he gets very little sympathy.

So yeah my view in summary is: important issue/cause however White has handled it in the completely wrong manner.

The podcast is out now with our thoughts, so we invite you to check it out here:
http://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-episode-12/

I'm 'bashing' Royce White because while his intention of what he's fighting for is good he's doing a stupid way of trying to achieve it. How can he demand better workplace protocols for mental health when he hasn't even spent enough time going to work. That's like a person who hasn't spent a week in work and yet he's already going on strike for better pay and benefits.

^he could just auction off his championship ring for mental health charity like metta world peace did.

Where's he going to get a championship ring?

White has been reinstated and is reporting to the D-League. Poorly handled as the whole situation has been by his camp, hopefully they can put the whole mess behind them and make a fresh start.

He's playing today in the D-League. You can watch the full game live on youtube:

phpBB [video]

Promising steps as far as his NBA career is concerned.

Just when you thought it was over... Royce White: NBA, Rockets ‘want me gone’

Jesus mother of a butt fucking Christ. Is this guy not getting tired of tooting his own damn horn? Seriously. Just.....stop....talking....Is he not smart enough to see he is just being a prick and not helping anything?

Well, he does have an assortment of psychological problems, but once again that's all the more reason for the people looking out for him to reign him in and encourage him to think before he makes these pronouncements. He's not doing himself or his cause any favours.

I didn't watch the interview but I don't see a single thing from him in the quote to justify calling him a "prick" or to blame him for anything. Let alone anything he said being blatantly wrong despite how dumb he seems to be. (Even the HBO excerpts quoted are just him giving a favorable one-sided take on the position.)

If you think the NBA gives a shit about any kind of mental health or even legitimate substance abuse situations, you haven't been paying attention.

Jesus mother of a butt fucking Christ. Is this guy not getting tired of tooting his own damn horn? Seriously. Just.....stop....talking....Is he not smart enough to see he is just being a prick and not helping anything?

Why should he.
You once said yourself you believe he's a sociopath.
Sociopaths don't care what others think or say so why should he care about what the Rockets or others say he should do.

Drafting him is the worst move the franchise did since not re-signing Von Wafer. Damn.

Jesus mother of a butt fucking Christ. Is this guy not getting tired of tooting his own damn horn? Seriously. Just.....stop....talking....Is he not smart enough to see he is just being a prick and not helping anything?

Why should he.
You once said yourself you believe he's a sociopath.
Sociopaths don't care what others think or say so why should he care about what the Rockets or others say he should do.

Youre on that troll train once again but Ill still indulge you.

It is just hard for a normal person like me to grip my mind around the actions of a sociopath. Even if I am aware of it. Regardless of if he is a sociopath or not, Im guessing he should atleast have the intelligence to realize he is doing more harm to his selfish cause by talking so much shit.

Given his issues, that might not be a reasonable expectation. Again though, you'd expect the people he has around to support him to be exercising better judgement (or at least you'd hope so).

It is just hard for a normal person like me to grip my mind around the actions of a sociopath.

lol, how do you know you're a normal person?

Im guessing he should atleast have the intelligence to realize he is doing more harm to his selfish cause by talking so much shit.

Then you completely miss the point of mental illness then.

Rockets rookie Royce White slated to return to D-League team after leaving it without permission

To his credit, he called it a "miscommunication" on Twitter and thanked the Vipers for their understanding, rather than claiming there was another plot against him. It still seems like he needs to be surrounded by better advisers.