I wouldn't call taking money you did nothing to earn a real sacrifice. Signing a guaranteed contract then refusing to abide by the stipulations of that deal while still cashing the checks doesn't take a ton of bravery.
Royce White at Knicks mini-camp
- Thread starter Bret44
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I wouldn't call taking money you did nothing to earn a real sacrifice. Signing a guaranteed contract then refusing to abide by the stipulations of that deal while still cashing the checks doesn't take a ton of bravery.
I may not agree completely with what Royce has done or how he's gone about it, but with some of the comments here, it's very obvious some people haven't the slightest clue with it means to be dealing with mental health disorders. If you have depression, it's not just about "being sad." If you have anxiety, it's not just about "being afraid to fly." Depending on the level of the condition, these things can be more crippling than a physical injury.
I completely agree with you. And I sympathize as much as I can with anyone who has a mental heath disorder. I am curious as to how much it changed or increased after he left Iowa State though. It never seemed to be a problem with him until his name started to get thrown around in the same sentence as the NBA, later in the basketball season. He has even come out and said it isn't that he can't fly, it is that he doesn't feel like himself before/during/after flying. I just am curious as to if it was this crippling at ISU and we just didn't hear about anything, or if it has intensified since leaving ISU.
I think Fred (and I'm assuming ISU team training staff and assistant coaches) just did an excellent job on being there for him for support. Obviously, they had a very vested interest in it, and I don't think he got what he felt was that same level of support when drafted. And things started spiraling. And with mental health, when things start spiraling out of control, it's hard to reel them back in.
Sooooooo Royce White is going to play for the Bulls this year?
I bet he'd jump at the chance if he were to get it.
Sooooooo Royce White is going to play for the Bulls this year?
This would be hilarious but for the whole leading to Hoiberg getting fired thing.
Oh, Totally. He would be skinned alive by the people of Chicago if he were to do it. Hence the JimLad
I personally don't understand exactly what he's fight for. What his position is. Does he want to play but they wont sign him because of his ailment? He was drafted in spite of it because Fred vouched for him I believe.
Does he want a team to sign him just to play in home games so he doesn't have to fly? I just don't get it.
I understand having to deal with mental illness. I' have issues with anxiety as well, to a lesser extent. I just don't know what he's expecting the NBA to do for him.
I understand having to deal with mental illness. I' have issues with anxiety as well, to a lesser extent. I just don't know what he's expecting the NBA to do for him.
I hold no ill will against Royce for making the choices he has. I think he was a little short-sighted in the way he has done it, as you have to have some celebrity before you can really be an advocate for something that anyone will listen to - but he's a big boy, his choice.
However - I just think that the premise of his mission is not clear enough. His specific issues are anxiety, markedly in his fear to fly. Those are big issues for someone in the NBA, clearly. But that isn't going to be the reality for people with other mental illnesses (schizophrenia, depression, OCD, whatever). It isn't necessarily even the issues that someone else with anxiety may have. So his mission to get accommodations for his particular issues is really only relevant to him and people with his set of symptoms.
I haven't heard what kind of accommodations he wants for someone who is bipolar. Does he want access to lithium, or a psychoanalyst to travel with them? Does he want them to be able to opt out of games when they are in a valley?
What kind of accommodations does he want for someone who has dementia? What if they can't remember plays, how does he want those to be accommodated?
I get that he's saying, "Hey, we're here, and we're talented, too - let's figure this out." But again, there are all kinds of handicaps that just may not be suited for particular jobs. Both physically and emotionally, the NBA might not work for some particular handicaps, but be fine with others. That's why all of this is a really broad stroke that doesn't seem to have any particular end game.
However - I just think that the premise of his mission is not clear enough. His specific issues are anxiety, markedly in his fear to fly. Those are big issues for someone in the NBA, clearly. But that isn't going to be the reality for people with other mental illnesses (schizophrenia, depression, OCD, whatever). It isn't necessarily even the issues that someone else with anxiety may have. So his mission to get accommodations for his particular issues is really only relevant to him and people with his set of symptoms.
I haven't heard what kind of accommodations he wants for someone who is bipolar. Does he want access to lithium, or a psychoanalyst to travel with them? Does he want them to be able to opt out of games when they are in a valley?
What kind of accommodations does he want for someone who has dementia? What if they can't remember plays, how does he want those to be accommodated?
I get that he's saying, "Hey, we're here, and we're talented, too - let's figure this out." But again, there are all kinds of handicaps that just may not be suited for particular jobs. Both physically and emotionally, the NBA might not work for some particular handicaps, but be fine with others. That's why all of this is a really broad stroke that doesn't seem to have any particular end game.
He's said flying isn't an issue and he's willing to. He wants consistency in policy in across the NBA. He was being told one thing by Houston, another by the team doctor, another by the NBAPA, etc. It was as if no one actually knew what policy was.
Angie's post before yours summed up my thoughts on this best. Royce is asking for consistent policy on something that is inherently unique. It's the equivalent of asking for the same medical protocol for a 7'0" player with a torn ACL and a 6'0" player with diarrhea.
I believe he is looking for an independent doctor to be the player advocate. This would be similar to, but not the same as, the NFL whenever there is a head strike question. The athlete enters the concussion protocol and must be cleared by a league doctor, not a team doctor. Royce wants someone he can go to that (A) he trusts (B) has the player's interest in mind and (C) can rule whether he is a go or not that day. He does not want a team doctor. He is searching for a protocol that puts this position in place for athletes.
I don't know what to think about Royce.. I loved his game when he played for us and have always wished him the best, but not personally knowing him I waffle back and forth on what I think is really going on. From outside perception it could be either of 2 opposite ends of the spectrum.
* He could be the really talented guy that just wants to play basketball and is fighting to overcome his anxiety issues to get back to the game he loves. He got things together while he was at ISU due to Fred and the support structure and if an NBA team would figure it out they would get a great player.
or
* He could be the guy that worked really hard for a year at ISU so that he could get a big payday and then use his anxiety disorder as an excuse to not perform per his contract. He then sees the end of the money he got from his draft day payoff and is now looking to get another team to sign up for a player that won't play or work hard.
I really don't know which is the truth or if the truth lies somewhere in between. There is no doubt that Royce is immensely talented and if he is the first guy I would love for him to get a second chance to prove it at the NBA level. However I cannot fault people (including NBA teams) for viewing him as the second guy.
* He could be the really talented guy that just wants to play basketball and is fighting to overcome his anxiety issues to get back to the game he loves. He got things together while he was at ISU due to Fred and the support structure and if an NBA team would figure it out they would get a great player.
or
* He could be the guy that worked really hard for a year at ISU so that he could get a big payday and then use his anxiety disorder as an excuse to not perform per his contract. He then sees the end of the money he got from his draft day payoff and is now looking to get another team to sign up for a player that won't play or work hard.
I really don't know which is the truth or if the truth lies somewhere in between. There is no doubt that Royce is immensely talented and if he is the first guy I would love for him to get a second chance to prove it at the NBA level. However I cannot fault people (including NBA teams) for viewing him as the second guy.