Royce White Says He Is Prepared To Quit

[TheImmortalGoud]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8640395/houston-rockets-royce-white-ready-walk-away-nba

Houston Rockets rookie Royce White says he is prepared to walk away from the NBA.

Speaking in an interview with ESPN's Colleen Dominguez, White said he was going to meet with general manager Daryl Morey on Monday to discuss his situation with the team.

The Rockets have said they intend to fine White for every day he remains away from the team or does not attend sessions with a therapist arranged by the team. The Houston Chronicle has reported the Rockets have no plans to trade or release White.

White, the 16th pick in June's draft, has remained absent from the team in a dispute over how the Rockets are helping him confront his anxiety disorder.

White, who has yet to play in a game, did not attend Monday's game against Miami, Tuesday's practice or Wednesday's game against New Orleans. He said on his Twitter account that the Rockets have been "inconsistent" in helping him.

The Rockets (4-4) visit the Portland Trail Blazers (3-5) on Friday night.

[Herm]

I understand he has problems. you cant just say F you to the team and skip out on therapy sessions they are providing to you.

[ralaw]

This kids real issue is his immaturity. He needs to stop hiding behind this disorder and using it as an excuse and take responsibility for his health and actions. He has been a wasted draft pick. He wants someone to coddle him like they did at Iowa St.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Hard to feel bad for the Rockets, they knew what they were getting into.

Maybe it's not apples/apples, but I had social anxiety for many years, inherited from my basket case mother, and the only way to beat that shit is to just say 'fuck it' and face the world. Meanwhile, my medicated/coddled mother still hides in the house and blames shit on 'attacks'.

[Glenbino]

Yeah I have SAD and it's a bitch to get up in the morning 80% of the time but at some point you just gotta live life. People go to work in wheelchairs and while they are dying of cancer to pay for the treatments you have to just play the hand life deals you.

People who play the victim card and then hide behind it as promoting awareness make me sick. If you really wanted to promote awareness you could talk about how difficult this disease is to overcome but use your status as an NBA player to get the word out that it can be done.

This guy is full of talent and I wanted the C's to draft him but it's pretty clear that he's more inclined to just hide behind his disease and accost those who don't cater to him rather than adjusting his life in accordance with what it takes to be a contributing member to society.

[NAHSTE]

I am a huge mental health advocate and would never presume to tell this guy how to think or feel. I have dealt with anxiety and depression, and like him I used to have an extreme aversion to flying. I'd have panic attacks, hyperventilate, break into sweats, vomiting, etc. 99% of the time I flew in a plane up until the last few years or so. Tried Dramamine, never worked. Once the plane would descend towards landing, instant panic attack. Then came the vomiting. Needless to say, I tried not to fly much.

I interviewed for a job around that time, which would have required me traveling the country every month. I didn't get the job, but having to discuss my fear of flying in the context of how it could affect my career helped me realize how much I'd been limiting myself. I mean, I had never been west of the Mississippi until I visited California earlier this year.

After that interview, I forced myself to get over it, with the assistance of a better medical solution (Bonine > Dramamine).

Anyway, I can sympathize with White and believe he is sincere, but I hope he realizes how small he's making the world for himself.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Who woulda thunk VSN is full of social retards?

 

[dave]

Hard to feel bad for the Rockets, they knew what they were getting into.

Maybe it's not apples/apples, but I had social anxiety for many years, inherited from my basket case mother, and the only way to beat that shit is to just say 'fuck it' and face the world. Meanwhile, my medicated/coddled mother still hides in the house and blames shit on 'attacks'.

I honestly applaud you for your success, but that doesn't mean it's automatic for everyone else. Life is not that black and white.

[Argath]

Damn shame people were talking about this kid being the sleeper of the draft.

[Diivox]

Hard to feel bad for the Rockets, they knew what they were getting into.

Maybe it's not apples/apples, but I had social anxiety for many years, inherited from my basket case mother, and the only way to beat that shit is to just say 'fuck it' and face the world. Meanwhile, my medicated/coddled mother still hides in the house and blames shit on 'attacks'.

Same here dude. I sucked down Paxil, Prozac, Selexa... they had me on all kinds of shit. I was just a vegetable. Couldnt get worked up about anything but also couldnt REALLY enjoy anything either. Like it or not, its a weakness, and you can't cower behind weakness, you have to face it head on and deal with it. It works like any other muscle in the body ; if you work at it, a man becomes stronger.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I honestly applaud you for your success, but that doesn't mean it's automatic for everyone else. Life is not that black and white.

Again, i'm not privy to the details of White's condition, but aside from me you have three other people in this thread who have also dealt with this who all say that the only real way to beat it is to simply man up and face it head on.

I'm not being insensitive. It's just from my experience, you don't get past this until you force yourself to beat it. It's my personal belief that meds make it worse.

[JimLeavy59]

Guy seems like a dick.

[ralaw]

An official statement from Royce White:

We say there is such an unknown element to mental health in this country, due to the number of people who are not diagnosed. This element also makes it a tough demographic to support.

I agree.

However, it saddens and frightens me to know that in this situation all the decision makers involved have been informed of all the medical dynamics, and yet still refuse to adhere to medical sensibility. In hindsight of the recent tragedies in this country, that had mental illness variables, you would think it would encourage people to act more proactively in that arena. You would think that decision makers who are not well informed about mental health, would take the consultation and recommendation of those who are. You would think we would start to do everything possible to not let the tragic consequences befall us first, before we ask the logical question, "why?", "who knew?" "how could we have helped?. Why not take a proactive approach of "who knows?" "how can we listen?", "how can we support now?"

I do wish to play, but I only intend to do so with the collaboration and recommendation of trained professionals. The purpose of a doctor's confirmation is to ensure that health decisions are made in the sole interest of health and not conflicted with business. My only hope is that decision makers involved realize that doctors are the only logical source to decide action.

There is an admitted lack of knowledge on behalf of the Rockets and the NBA, it becomes transparent as they choose to forego the knowledge of trained professionals and make independent decisions for something as complex as mental health without consulting any doctors. The Rockets have told me in recent conversations that it is their right to decline even their own doctors' recommendations. The concept of not listening to medical consultants in medical situations is alarming. It is also alarming that a player is susceptible to fines for simply adhering to the recommendation of doctors.

It is true that accommodating mental health can be very tough and complex, however, sometimes the only reasonable solution to doing what is right is doing what is tough. To portray that the Rockets have been supportive to me is fundamentally incorrect.

The information that the Houston Rockets have publicly presented about this situation has been extremely misleading and a lot of times totally inaccurate. An image of support has been presented by the Rockets, but the only logical support here would be listening to the recommendation of the medical professionals involved. That has not totally happened here. I have chosen to not play, because the doctors and I believe it to be unsafe for unqualified Rockets front office personnel to make medical decisions, as they are not mental health professionals.

White has refused to show up for D-league assignment. I understand his cause, but going about it like this isn't the way. He is going to find himself out of basketball soon.

[Colts44]

Had one class at Iowa State with Royce. Seemed like an intelligent and likable guy really. Also had no problems interacting socially with anyone in class or the professor. I have no doubt his anxiety is a part of it, but if you've read the grantland article on him I also doubt his heart is in basketball.

[BiggaAdams]

What I want to know is if the Rockets have paid him a dime yet, and if so, are they able to fine him and get that money back?