Royce White headed to D-league??

[HOTDON]

I'm guessing he did it to bring awareness to his anxiety - I honestly think that's always been more of an issue to him than basketball, he basically says it in interviews. The only thing I think he isn't realizing is that he can do more good/bring more attention by bringing it to the forefront when he has a bigger audience. Get out on the floor first, grow your fanbase, then make it a point. Right now the only ones really behind him are ISU fans, I think a lot of Rockets fans see him as difficult.

Well said. At the end of the day the Rockets are a business, and they will support Royce and his cause right up to the point where it becomes bad for business. Right now he's a good story about overcoming his disorder. If it keeps him from playing in the NBA, the story loses the happy ending.

 

[Angie]

Well said. At the end of the day the Rockets are a business, and they will support Royce and his cause right up to the point where it becomes bad for business. Right now he's a good story about overcoming his disorder. If it keeps him from playing in the NBA, the story loses the happy ending.

Dead-on. You have to show that you've got some game behind this good story.

I sort of look at it like a rock star. You can start demanding sandwiches with the crusts cut off and just green M&Ms in your dressing room once you've made it big - if you start out that way at the beginning of your career, no matter how talented you are, people are going to stop booking you because you're a pain in the butt. (Even if you're not.)

 

[Jambalaya]

I think Royce has too much on his mind. Needs to get back to focusing on basketball and let the rest take care of itself.

Royce, if mentally healthy, could have a solid 1o-12 NBA career. The amount of anxiety and energy he expends on one single road game (flying) might shorten his career after 2-3 years (by his own choice).
I just don't see him wanting to deal with the lifestyle

 

[Tre4ISU]

I'm going to get torn to shreds over this but this is how I have always felt. Royce doesn't really care to play. It wasn't so much obvious while he was here but it is now through everything that has gone on. He was doing what many people really though deep down. He was using the NBA as an avenue for other things. This was pretty obvious. I love what he did while here but all those scouts have been justified in why they thought teams would be scared. I wish him the best but he needs to get it together before basketball is gone as an avenue to his music and awareness.

 

[jbhtexas]

His decision was declared correct exactly the second he was drafted as high as he was. What was important was that he gets his guaranteed contract when he can. His stock was never getting higher than it was. He was already old for a lottery pick. He made the right decision.

What's better for a player: getting a big guaranteed contract coming out early and then washing out of the NBA after two years because said player wasn't ready, or staying another year in college, getting a smaller first contract, and playing for 10-12 years in the NBA (i.e. not bouncing between NBA, D-League, Europe)? Craig Brackens got a nice guaranteed contract too. And now he's out of the NBA.

It's not a good thing to get sent to the D-League. If you read up on the D-League, talent and ability doesn't always get you out (unless you are clearly better than anyone there). You also need a situation to arise in the NBA where your skills are needed.

I really hope RW doesn't get sent down there. If he ends up down there, with the unpleasantness that surrounded his training camp (or lack thereof), he is going to have to really shine in order to get out. If another year in college would have helped him clear up his issues and would have gotten him into NBA training camp on time and ready to play, going early might not have been in his best interest.

It is way too early to tell whether he made the right decision or not.

 

[Angie]

I'm going to get torn to shreds over this but this is how I have always felt. Royce doesn't really care to play. It wasn't so much obvious while he was here but it is now through everything that has gone on. He was doing what many people really though deep down. He was using the NBA as an avenue for other things. This was pretty obvious. I love what he did while here but all those scouts have been justified in why they thought teams would be scared. I wish him the best but he needs to get it together before basketball is gone as an avenue to his music and awareness.

No ripping here, you're right. I think he's pretty much said that out loud - I think he said it in the documentary short about him. He has a lot of loves - bball, his music, etc., but he's passionate about spreading anxiety awareness. I just think he's going about this wrong, you need to get the audience first.

 

[Jambalaya]

What's better for a player: getting a big guaranteed contract coming out early and then washing out of the NBA after two years because said player wasn't ready, or staying another year in college, getting a smaller first contract, and playing for 10-12 years in the NBA (i.e. not bouncing between NBA, D-League, Europe)? Craig Brackens got a nice guaranteed contract too. .

If another year in college would have helped him clear up his issues and would have gotten him into NBA training camp on time and ready to play, going early might not have been in his best interest.

It is way too early to tell whether he made the right decision or not.

He's not going to magically 'clear up' issues anytime soon--maybe ever, or by staying college for another year. He has severe anxiety issues. He hates to fly, hates the hours and days leading up to a flight. This is about his health--not about the NBA, D-League, ISU, or his talent.

Just watch his draft day party @ ISu onYouTube to realize the severity of his illness

 

[Cydkar]

I think basketball is low on Royce's totem pole. At least not as high as an NBA team would prefer. And that's not necessarily a bad thing...unless you are part of the Rockets.

 

[Cycl1]

Yeah, missing training camp is big. Can take months to catch up on what you missed, we all knew Royce's transition could be one that takes time. This will give him minutes, help him get into shape, and build confidence. His team just has so many power forwards ahead of him right now. He was just getting back into playing form at the end of last season. This will give him time to toughen up.

 

[CLONECONES]

think he'll try to have a beard-off with Harden?

 

[jbhtexas]

He's not going to magically 'clear up' issues anytime soon--maybe ever, or by staying college for another year. He has severe anxiety issues. He hates to fly, hates the hours and days leading up to a flight. This is about his health--not about the NBA, D-League, ISU, or his talent.

That excuse doesn't cut it anymore. RW made it about the NBA when he took an NBA contract. It was his choice to sign the contract. If it was about his health, he should have sought treatment instead of jumping on an NBA contract.

RW is the only one who really knows how severe his anxiety is. I really hope he didn't take the contract knowing that he wouldn't be able to cope with the NBA grind.

 

[kevdiv48]

That excuse doesn't cut it anymore. RW made it about the NBA when he took an NBA contract. It was his choice to sign the contract. If it was about his health, he should have sought treatment instead of jumping on an NBA contract.

RW is the only one who really knows how severe his anxiety is. I really hope he didn't take the contract knowing that he wouldn't be able to cope with the NBA grind.

This exactly. Unfortunately it seems like he is making excuses or whatnot. As of right now, it is Royce's job to be an NBA player. For right now, put everything else on the back burner, get your butt in gear and play like a first round pick should. Once you get established, then spend your efforts spreading anxiety disorder awareness, deciding what do with music post-basketball, etc.
He definitely should have known beforehand that he would have to put some of his other interests aside for some time to focus on basketball. It looks like the maturity that I have been doubting for some time is still not there yet.

 

[LivntheCyLife]

What's better for a player: getting a big guaranteed contract coming out early and then washing out of the NBA after two years because said player wasn't ready, or staying another year in college, getting a smaller first contract, and playing for 10-12 years in the NBA (i.e. not bouncing between NBA, D-League, Europe)? Craig Brackens got a nice guaranteed contract too. And now he's out of the NBA.

It's not a good thing to get sent to the D-League. If you read up on the D-League, talent and ability doesn't always get you out (unless you are clearly better than anyone there). You also need a situation to arise in the NBA where your skills are needed.

The question is whether another year in college or a year in the D League makes you more likely to have a long NBA career than a short one. It's impossible to know for sure since no single player can do both. College can be a crutch for some of these guys as they don't fully appreciate their weaknesses and what skill set they need to fit in on a pro basketball team.

 

[NotJustMagic]

What's better for a player: getting a big guaranteed contract coming out early and then washing out of the NBA after two years because said player wasn't ready, or staying another year in college, getting a smaller first contract, and playing for 10-12 years in the NBA (i.e. not bouncing between NBA, D-League, Europe)? Craig Brackens got a nice guaranteed contract too. And now he's out of the NBA.

It's not a good thing to get sent to the D-League. If you read up on the D-League, talent and ability doesn't always get you out (unless you are clearly better than anyone there). You also need a situation to arise in the NBA where your skills are needed.

I really hope RW doesn't get sent down there. If he ends up down there, with the unpleasantness that surrounded his training camp (or lack thereof), he is going to have to really shine in order to get out. If another year in college would have helped him clear up his issues and would have gotten him into NBA training camp on time and ready to play, going early might not have been in his best interest.

It is way too early to tell whether he made the right decision or not.

Craig was a projected lottery pick after his sophomore year (puttin up 42? On KU). He came back to work on his body and defense, the things scouts said could be an issue. His jr year every team doubled him and figured out how to get his numbers down. Entered draft and took a significant pay decrease and is now over seas. So what do u think about staying another year?

 

[Trice]

That excuse doesn't cut it anymore. RW made it about the NBA when he took an NBA contract. It was his choice to sign the contract. If it was about his health, he should have sought treatment instead of jumping on an NBA contract.

RW is the only one who really knows how severe his anxiety is. I really hope he didn't take the contract knowing that he wouldn't be able to cope with the NBA grind.

I agree with this take, and I say that a huge Royce White guy (as most of us are, I suppose). At some point you gotta do the work. I know Twitter isn't the most scientific way to take a person's temperature so to speak but everything he tweets is about his anxiety, people hating on him, etc. It's so defiant. Never about the job in front of him.

It would seem to me that people with any illness or disability would not want to be defined solely by that illness or disability. But it feels like RW doesn't want to be known for anything BUT his illness. And I want to root for RW the basketball player again.

I think it's great that he has diverse interests and wants to use his position as a platform for other anxiety sufferers. But if you're not playing basketball, you've lost your platform and separated yourself from the skill that can make you and your family financially secure for life. You're just another guy in a world that isn't that accommodating for anxiety sufferers. And you're without a college degree.

I hadn't heard that he showed up for camp out of shape but if so that's just mind-boggling. I hope this is all just a bump in the road and that he can get this back on track.

 

[jbhtexas]

Craig was a projected lottery pick after his sophomore year (puttin up 42? On KU). He came back to work on his body and defense, the things scouts said could be an issue. His jr year every team doubled him and figured out how to get his numbers down. Entered draft and took a significant pay decrease and is now over seas. So what do u think about staying another year?

He probably should have stayed for a senior year under Hoiberg, because his junior year revealed deficiencies in his game that he was never able to correct to the extent necessary to stay in the NBA. His college solution to the double team, as I recall, was a fade-away jump shot that he couldn't hit with consistency. Going into the NBA as sophomore wouldn't have changed the fact that CB didn't have an answer for being double teamed.

 

[jbhtexas]

I agree with this take, and I say that a huge Royce White guy (as most of us are, I suppose). At some point you gotta do the work. I know Twitter isn't the most scientific way to take a person's temperature so to speak but everything he tweets is about his anxiety, people hating on him, etc. It's so defiant. Never about the job in front of him.

It would seem to me that people with any illness or disability would not want to be defined solely by that illness or disability. But it feels like RW doesn't want to be known for anything BUT his illness. And I want to root for RW the basketball player again.

I think it's great that he has diverse interests and wants to use his position as a platform for other anxiety sufferers. But if you're not playing basketball, you've lost your platform and separated yourself from the skill that can make you and your family financially secure for life. You're just another guy in a world that isn't that accommodating for anxiety sufferers. And you're without a college degree.

I hadn't heard that he showed up for camp out of shape but if so that's just mind-boggling. I hope this is all just a bump in the road and that he can get this back on track.

Very well said!

 

[kevdiv48]

Very well said!

That it is

 

[awd4cy]

Craig was a projected lottery pick after his sophomore year (puttin up 42? On KU). He came back to work on his body and defense, the things scouts said could be an issue. His jr year every team doubled him and figured out how to get his numbers down. Entered draft and took a significant pay decrease and is now over seas. So what do u think about staying another year?

That isn't the case with everyone. More times than not players benifit from coming back another year. Royce had plenty of things he could have improved in his second year.

 

[aeroclone]

The warning signs have kept popping up dating back to when Royce was making his decision to stay at ISU or go pro. I hate to say it, but I don't think he will have much of an NBA career at all. It is getting to the point where it is just too much drama and too many hoops to jump through for the Rockets to put up with it. The guy is a rookie who hasn't proven anything at the NBA level, in the eyes of an NBA team, he isn't too hard to replace at this point.