Royce White, Rockets at odds over playing time, White's anxiety

Royce White: Rockets failed to provide 'recognition and respect of mental health'

Royce White recently left the Houston Rockets' NBA Developmental League affiliate team for the remainder of the season. He spoke with CNN about why he did it.

Royce White describes mental health protocol as life and death

Houston Rockets rookie Royce White told HBO in a feature on his anxiety disorders that his mental health issues and his employers' actions could risk his life.

Royce White reportedly wants Rockets, NBPA to sign special mental health protocol document

Rockets rookie Royce White is seeking a special mental health protocol from the league that would give doctors authority in handling his anxiety disorder. However, such an agreement is banned under the current collective bargaining agreement.

Royce White suspended by Rockets

The Houston Rockets have suspended rookie forward Royce White.

Royce White will not accept assignment to NBA D-League

Rockets first-round pick Royce White refused a D-League assignment on Sunday, a day after the team announced they would send him to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in an attempt to work him into the organization.

Royce White lashes out at Adrian Wojnarowski

Rockets rookie Royce White lashed out at Yahoo! columnist Adrian Wojnarowski, who last week wrote a remarkably even-handed piece on how White's anxiety disorder could cost him his NBA career.

Rockets have no plans to release Royce White despite current conflict, according to report

Royce White's battle with his anxiety disorder was one of the feel-good stories of the 2012 Draft, but it has turned sour in recent weeks.

The talented young power forward, whom Houston took with the No. 16 overall pick, has gotten into a public spat with the Rockets about the way they've handled his condition as well as his role on the team.

However, despite the turmoil, Houston reportedly has no interest in releasing White after sending him down to their D-League affiliate earlier in the week.

White was one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft, a do-everything 6'8, 270-pounder who lead his Iowa State team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. But concerns about his difficulties with anxiety, which make flying difficult for him, sent him sliding out of the lottery.

In Houston, White has been stuck behind a roster log-jam at the 3/4 positions with five other recent draft picks -- Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Chandler Parsons, Donatas Motiejunas and Terrence Jones.

Nevertheless, he's far too talented a player for the Rockets to lose for nothing, so both the team's management and White's advisers will have to find a way to work with each other.

Royce White objects to Rockets' claim that he skipped sessions with therapist

The Houston Rockets forward took to Twitter to contest a report that he did not attend sessions with a team therapist.

Royce White, Rockets at odds over playing time, according to report

Royce White doesn't think the Houston Rockets have given him enough of an opportunity to earn playing time, and his dispute with the team is growing uglier by the day.

Royce White: Rockets 'inconsistent' in creating 'healthy and successful relationship'

Houston Rockets rookie Royce White released a statement on Tuesday that claims the organization has not created a healthy relationship knowing his anxiety disorder.

Royce White returns to Houston Rockets practice

Houston Rockets forward Royce White returned to practice today after an absence surrounding his anxiety and mental health battles.

The rookie did not join the Rockets when training camp opened a week ago, with concerns over the execution of his plans to keep his anxiety at bay. After meeting with the Rockets several times, White released very positive statements via his publicist and on Twitter indicating that he and the team were being "proactive" so that problems don't arise in the future.

Four days ago, the Rockets and White came to an agreement that would allow the 6'8" forward to travel by bus to certain games, which are assumed to be closer games at Dallas, San Antonio, and New Orleans.

The No. 16 overall pick in the 2012 draft, White's skills combined a forward's frame with triple-threat ability, as he averaged 13.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and five5 assists per contest in his senior year at Iowa State.

Royce White, Rockets have preseason travel agreement in place

Royce White missed the first couple days of training camp for the Houston Rockets because of anxiety issues that had red-flagged him prior to the draft. He has reportedly gotten the full support of the team in his keeping away from the camp and is close to finally reporting.

To help counteract his fear of flying, the team has made a pact with White that will allow him to be bussed to games that are close enough, along with other provisions to help him adjust to the NBA.

"I think that was a great step taken by the Rockets to be able to meet me on this one, and it was a great step in terms of mental illness being taken seriously in the workplace. I just think it's a very positive thing that happened all the way around."

White and the Rockets will start the preseason against the Oklahoma City Thunder next Wednesday.

Royce White will travel to some Rockets games by bus

The Houston Rockets and rookie forward Royce White have come to an agreement to allow White to travel by bus to certain games due to White's fear of flying, a part of his anxiety disorder.

The agreement is pending league and NBA Players Association approval, standard protocol for changes in a player's contract.

The cost of the bus will be furnished by White.

"They knew when they drafted me there was a fear of flying," White said in an interview with FOX 26 in Hosuton. "That is a very real aspect of my life. There's no reason why it has to keep me from being successful on the court. There's definitely no reason why it should be allowed to keep me from being healthy and I think that that's the main point."

White had not been attending training camp while he and the team discussed the issue.

Specifics about which games White will travel to via bus were unclear, but he hinted at games within the division, such as Dallas, San Antonio and New Orleans.

White has had controversy follow him since he was a prep player in Minneapolis. He was dismissed during his sophomore year at De La Salle High School, one year after winning a state championship. He eventually led Hopkins High School to a state championship his senior year.

A recruit at the University of Minnesota, White was suspended by head coach Tubby Smith for the 2009-10 season after he plead guilty to theft and disorderly conduct for an incident at a Minneapolis area mall. He left Minnesota, and while he had an offer in hand from Kentucky coach John Calipari, his fear of flying was said to prevent him from making the trip to Lexington, Ky.

Instead, he attended Iowa State and led the Cyclones in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. The Rockets selected him with the 16th overall pick.

Royce White wants to use bus for Rockets' road trips

Houston rookie Royce White has not yet attended Rockets training camp, which began Tuesday, due to anxiety issues. White said Wednesday night that he has asked the Rockets to approve busing to road games when the team is playing within a drivable distance:

"People with mental illness, one of the most important things is that they have that consistency and routine. The girth of (my request) was, 'Can I travel by bus to close enough games?' "

White said that he will buy and furnish the bus to make it "feel like home so that there's a level of consistency in a job where inconsistency is very apparent." White's anxiety disorder is aggravated by flying.

In a statement released Wednesday, White said that he wants to work out a long-term plan with the Rockets that will address his mental health issues and "support a healthy work environment." Rockets GM Daryl Morey has already expressed the team's long-term support for White as he adjusts to life in the NBA.

Royce White discusses camp absence on Twitter

Royce White has yet to arrive at training camp for the Houston Rockets, but on Thursday morning the No. 16 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft broke his media silence and spoke about his absence. White released a statement through his publicist in which he expresses regret for missing time at camp and clarifies that he is actively seeking treatment for his anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. White also took to Twitter on Thursday and sent out messages to his followers for the first time since Sept. 28:

Anxiety isn't keeping me from camp, taking a Proactive approach to my mental illness instead of reactive is.* #StayingAheadOfMyDisorder

— Royce White (@Highway_30) October 4, 2012

Again I want to emphasize! my health now is great, the best its ever been, now that I could quit hiding, the long term is the goal here.

— Royce White (@Highway_30) October 4, 2012

White is a supremely talented player, which he proved during his time at Iowa State, but he also suffers from a well-documented anxiety disorder that includes a fear of flying. The Rockets opened camp on Oct. 2, and general manager Daryl Morey has extended his unconditional support to his rookie forward from the moment it was announced that White would miss the open of training camp activities.

Royce White has positive meeting with Rockets

Houston Rockets rookie forward Royce White met with team officials on Wednesday night, which is reported to have gone "well," according to FOX 26 in Houston. White has been absent from training camp in a continued battle with his widely publicized anxiety issues.

The station's report also says that White is not set to join the Rockets' training camp, but will try to join the team at a later date.

White, the no. 16 overall pick of the 2012 draft, also released a statement through his publicist in which he says he has asked for help and will continue to champion understanding for mental illness:

"For me, hiding is no longer a healthy option in treating my anxiety or OCD, so I have asked for some help from the organization to ensure long-term health for myself ...

"It is regrettable that I cannot be currently present, but long term health obviously should be the most important thing. I will continue to champion the cause for mental illness being met with understanding; if not, the ramifications are dangerous."

A tweet from White even later in the night confirmed the report that the meeting went well:

There is nothing but very positive strides being taken right now between I and the @houstonrockets to support health. Thank You! #Rockets

— Royce White (@Highway_30) October 4, 2012

The 6'8" White averaged 13.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5 assists per contest in his senior year at Iowa State.

Royce White is not a 'head case,' he has a mental illness

An NBA beat writer calls the Rockets' rookie, who missed the first day of camp due to anxiety disorder, a "head case." That's not OK.

Rockets 'committed' to Royce White, will 'support him'

Currently missing in action at his team's training camp due to a "personal matter," Houston Rockets rookie forward Royce White is still a long-term piece, according to a statement by general manager Daryl Morey through Jason Friedman of Rockets.com.

The No. 16 overall pick in June's 2012 NBA Draft, many of White's problems can be traced to a number of anxiety issues the talented forward has dealt with since he was a young child. Though he appeared to turn a corner after transferring colleges from Minnesota to Iowa State before flourishing on a national stage with the Cyclones, it's clear that White and the organization will need some time to sort things out in the coming days.

White's absence will continue to offer even more playing time for fellow rookie Terrence Jones in camp, a player whom Morey snagged with the 18th overall pick shortly after selecting White. While it's obviously good to hear that the Rockets are prepared to offer White all the personal help he needs going forward, it has to be quite disconcerting to Houston fans that an elite talent like this is already having problems getting accustomed to his new job.

Statement from Daryl Morey regarding Royce White "We are committed to Royce's long term success and we will continue to support him now...

— Jason Friedman (@RocketsJCF) October 3, 2012

And going forward."

— Jason Friedman (@RocketsJCF) October 3, 2012

Royce White not at Rockets training camp due to 'personal matter'

Royce White will not be with the Houston Rockets for the opening of training camp due to a "personal matter."