Sports

NBA Houston Rockets Royce White Says He Will Play in 2013

ISU Cyclone White has reportedly refused his assignment to the Houston Rocket's D-League and could play for the Rockets sometime this year, according to him.

Former Iowa State University Cyclone standout Royce White hasn't played a single regular season game since being drafted to the NBA's Houston Rockets in June, but he is confident that he will score for the team in 2013, according to his Twitter feed.

Some report that White, who has wrangled with the team over management of his anxiety disorder, has refused an assignment to the Houston Rockets' Developmental League.

The Rockets' Rio Grande Valley Vipers would have brought White back to the Ames area in February when they are scheduled to play the Iowa Energy in Des Moines.

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But when White returns to the court he is confident that it will neither be with the D-League nor in some far off land.

White, who was drafted to the NBA in June, tweeted Thursday morning that he will play for the Houston Rockets hopefully in 2013.

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“I'm NOT planning on pursuing European B-ball, I will play for the ‪@HoustonRockets when this current situation is resolved. Hopefully ‪#2K13," White said via his twitter account: Royce White ‏‪@Highway_30

White recently issued a statement rejecting his assignment to the Rockets' D-League as reported by the USA Today.

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,” White said in a prepared statement.

When White was drafted he was the “only player in the nation to lead his team in scoring (13.4), rebounding (9.3), assists (5.0), steals (1.1) and blocks (0.9),” according to Cyclones.com.

As a Cyclone, White single-handley took on the entire team of No.1 Seed Kentucky during the third round of the NCAA tournament bringing the point spread to a level, where a Cyclone win could have been possible.

White was also credited for being instrumental in bringing the team to its first NCAA tournament since 2005.

White decided to go pro after spending just one year playing for the Cyclones, but he and his new team have been in disagreement over treatment of his generalized anxiety disorder that is exacerbated by flying.

White's complete response to his D-League assignment, as reported on the USA Today, follows below:

"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."

SEE MORE ON PATCH

Royce White Meeting With NBA Houston Rockets to Decide Fate

NBA Houston Rockets Royce White's Twitter Feed Sparks News Coverage

NBA's Houston Rockets Threaten to Fine Royce White; Send Him to D-League

NBA Draft Pick Royce White Opens Up About Anxiety (Video)

VIDEO: Royce White Highlights from Iowa State University Cyclones Basketball


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