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Asked if that meant the doctor could determine that White’s anxiety disorder would not allow him to play, for example, in a game against the Lakers, “Then I can’t play against the Lakers,” he said. “Just like if your orthopedist says, ‘Royce’s left toe has a crack in it and he shouldn’t run or jump against the Lakers tonight,’ then I can’t run or jump against the Lakers tonight.” White said the only difference between his disorder and an orthopedic injury is “you can’t see mine. There’s no swelling, so to speak. It’s not purple.” He said he was aware his demands could end his NBA career before it starts but said, “I’m not gonna accept it without a fight.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

The HBO interview includes a segment with White driving on Houston streets and expressing concern about motorists who may be sending text messages while driving, and a tour of his closet, which Goldberg described as a symbol of White’s need for structure and order. “The item in here for me, out of all my clothes and belongings, that represents the most anxiety for me . is these hats right here,” White said. “They’re easily misplaced. You know, they’re easily displaced. It’s a round shape on a hook, on a square. You know, it’s just geometrically, it messes with my mind. Which is why I’m very careful when I come in my own closet.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Tas Melas: Royce White'll be on HBO's "Real Sports" next week. The press release noted that he's 21. Had to check 'cause he sounds much wiser than 21. Twitter @TasMelas

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Royce White: We talked about my travel. I probably took about a total of 20 flights last year at Iowa State. It caused me some stress, yes. To go from 20 flights to 96 flights for somebody who has a plane phobia is a risky amount of exposure. You know, right, there’s a difference between if you have a minor allergy to peanut butter and you eat one peanut butter sandwich. OK, you might not feel great but it’s not going to kill you. Now if you jumped in a big basket of peanut butter [laughs], you know, that might be it. Slate Magazine

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Royce White: It has become something bigger, I think. It was never my intention for it to become a big political thing or a social type of issue. I really didn’t intend for that to happen. I think it happened because the mental illness community by default is one that is (a) very quiet, and I am very unique to that group in that I’m not quiet. And (b), it’s just something that we’ve been avoiding for years and years. I mean we have players that are actually in the NBA right now with mental health issues probably even on my team. And there’s no protocol in place. So that just tells you there’s an issue out there that’s being talked about but it’s never being acted on. Now, talking about Iowa State, I think is very tough in terms of support, right? Because, you can’t even compare the two, and the reason why is because in college, the coach is the head honcho. OK, what Fred Hoiberg says at Iowa State goes. And what Kevin McHale says here in Houston is, it’s kind of neither here nor there, you know, when you’re talking about front office issues. Coach Hoiberg doesn’t really have a boss. The AD, yeah. But the AD really gives all the power back to him. I think at the end of the day, you’re never going to see the same kind of support on a professional team that you would at a college team just because there’s not the money factor involved for the players, and that adds a different dynamic, and (b) is just because the structure is set up different. Slate Magazine

Houston Rockets, Kevin McHale, Fred Hoiberg, Royce White 

Royce White: The truth of the matter is that I don’t just deal with anxiety. And that’s something that the Rockets know, something that most people know now, is I also deal with OCD and I also deal with PTSD. A lot of us deal with PTSD and we don’t even know it. That’s the next cookie that’s going to crumble pretty soon. But those things all manifest themselves in really, really different ways. I mean with anxiety, obviously, I have a lot of uncertainties. It is very, potentially uncomfortable, not knowing. When I first started having anxiety, it was because I was very uncertain about my own health. Like, my actual physical health, like my heart and my lungs. I had a friend that collapsed and almost died due to a heart condition that they never knew about. So it was about my health. Now once I X’ed out all those issues, my anxiety has actually been pretty good. Now, I still have the occasional times where if I’m stressed out about something then it becomes hard to focus, or you get your sweaty palms. Now, the plane phobia itself is entirely different. That is independent, me not liking to fly. Probably has a lot to do with heights. Probably has a lot to do with trust. But the anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder in itself, has a lot of different symptoms. I mean it can affect your sleep, it can affect your eating habits, it can affect so many things that it’s hard to just pinpoint. It’s really, at the beginning of this, just a navigation. Like, you have to constantly be aware of it. You know, it’s like diabetes almost [laughs], you just have to be paying attention to so many things that you really have to try and eliminate the alarming stressors. Slate Magazine

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Royce White: I watched my friend collapse and almost die, had to get a spinal tap open heart surgery. I had a friend die in a car accident. I’m very apprehensive about cars still, to this day. My mom was in an abusive relationship when I was young. There’s so many things that, you know, people go through that are very traumatic that they don’t even realize. And that’s where you talk about cause or you talk about message, is that, that’s the only message here. It’s that everybody needs to start checking in with themselves more on a mental health level and stop thinking that the idea that, Ah, whatever comes, you just push through it. Yeah, you can push through it. But are you pushing through it at 100 percent? Or are you kind of, slowly but surely, everything that happens to you that you don’t address just chips away from who you are. It just chips away, it leaves a scar, leaves a scar. And pretty soon, you’re not well. Slate Magazine

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

When Houston Rockets forward Royce White refused an assignment to the NBA's Development League last week, he also temporarily saved his fellow rookies from breaking a not-so- distinguished record: the NBA draft class with the most first-round picks in the D-League in their first season. White, the 16th pick in June's NBA draft, was suspended Sunday by the Rockets for refusing his assignment to Houston's farm team. He would have been the 11th first-round pick—including two lottery selections—from the most recent draft to be sent down to the D-League. Wall Street Journal

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Royce White: If one more person tweets me, talking about NBA travel, I'll puke! This has NOTHING to do with traveling.. #BeWell #2K13 #InformOurselvesAge Twitter @Highway_30

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

According to a person familiar with the situation, White wants the NBA, the National Basketball Players Association, the Rockets and himself to sign a document detailing his wishes for the mental health protocol, and White has told the Rockets he won't show up for work until all parties sign the document. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the document was supposed to remain confidential. The person added that such agreements are banned under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. According to the uniform player contract detailed in the CBA, "no amendments to the form of the Uniform Player Contract provided for by Section 1 of this Article shall be permitted," and if a team or player agree on such an amendment, "such Contract or subsequent amendment, as the case may be, shall be disapproved by the Commissioner, and consequently, rendered null and void." USA Today

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Another person who requested anonymity because of the sensitive situation told USA TODAY Sports that White insists he wants to play. USA Today

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

The Houston Rockets have suspended first-round pick Royce White for "refusing to provide services" required by his contract. General manager Daryl Morey said Sunday that the team will continue to work with White in hopes of finding a resolution. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Jeff Zillgitt: Re: Royce White. Uniform player contract includes services player is expected to provide. Breach of contract may include fines/suspensions. Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Jonathan Feigen: This suspension does not come as a surprise to White. Morey has been in talks with him all week, unable to break the impasse. Twitter @Jonathan_Feigen

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Royce White: Threat, Fines, Suspension won't deter me. I won't accept illogical health decisions, I will keep asking for safety & health. #BeWell @Daryl Morey Twitter @Highway_30

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Royce White: Not refusing #DLeague I'm refusing to work, AT ALL, until a protocol is put in that ensures #safety.. Doctors should make medical decisions. Twitter @Highway_30

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Royce White: Undeniably UNSAFE 4 ANY PLAYER, when management has exec. authority in medical situations. Conflict of Interest, Health vs. Business #BeWell Twitter @Highway_30

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

With no end to his impasse with the Rockets in sight, rookie Royce White said it is very likely that he never plays in the NBA, citing a lack of league-wide protocol for dealing with mental health issues including his anxiety disorder. “I think that the chances are very high,” White said in an interview on Sirius/XM radio. “And I say that just like I said before the draft that the chances were very high that I didn’t even get drafted. Because business in America, as we all know, is about one thing and that’s convenience and efficiency. And oftentimes what the efficient thing to do is not the healthiest thing to do, right? That’s why we still sell cigarettes. It wouldn’t shock me if we couldn’t be logical and say a protocol is needed because it’ll be the hard thing to do. If that’s the case then so be it. I stand on what I say and I refuse to put myself in a hazardous situation to play a sport.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Royce White 

Nevertheless, the former Iowa State standout is not seeking a trade. "I don't really think going to another team is something that would be better," White told the show. "And it's not something that I want to do. I want to play for Houston. I love the city of Houston. Since I've been here, the fans have been nothing but supportive -- that I've met in person. Twitter has been different. The fans that I've met in person have been supportive. The community here is great. I have a lot of friends that work in the organization, in the building, that aren't even related to practice or the game, so to speak. So I have no intention or desire to play for another team." ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Trade, Royce White 

But his Thursday radio interview he made it clear it’s not personal, he sees this as the kind of workplace safety issue we’ve all seen around the office. The other thing that becomes clear is this is all about power and who has it. “This is about who — in general — has executive authority in medical situations…” White said during the interview with Justin Termine and former NBA player Mateen Cleaves. “Right now a GM does not have to listen to the medical advice of even his own doctors.” NBCSports.com

Houston Rockets, Royce White