Royce refuses to play in D League

**BigBake** · 01-11-2013, 11:16 AM

So he keeps ranting about Dr's making the decision but it only counts if it's a Dr that will tell him what he wants to hear.

**TXCyclones** · 01-11-2013, 11:17 AM

I'm not sure he understands what he's fighting for anymore. It's kind of like he's backed himself into a corner. The fight isn't about the travel, as he's said, that's been handled weeks ago. He's now stuck on this protocol, like he's taken up a fight on behalf of the ADA against the NBA. This will only come down to a buyout, with no change whatsoever to how basketball is run. At this point I believe the Rockets have their attorneys lining up their case do defend themselves against an inevitable ADA suit. Royce will not play a day in the NBA sadly.

**marothisu** · 01-11-2013, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by TXCyclones

I'm not sure he understands what he's fighting for anymore. It's kind of like he's backed himself into a corner. The fight isn't about the travel, as he's said, that's been handled weeks ago. He's now stuck on this protocol, like he's taken up a fight on behalf of the ADA against the NBA. This will only come down to a buyout, with no change whatsoever to how basketball is run. At this point I believe the Rockets have their attorneys lining up their case do defend themselves against an inevitable ADA suit. Royce will not play a day in the NBA sadly.

I've been in the situation before, albeit on a much, much, much smaller scale. It comes with immaturity. There's been times where I knew I messed up with what I was trying to accomplish, but I didn't want to admit I was wrong to make myself look bad.. so I just kept on pressing and even adopted new explanations. This is why I am kind of ****** at him, but I think he needs to go through it as a person to mature on that level. I might be wrong about it, obviously, but it reminds me of a few boneheaded things I've done in my life before. Luckily those things were really pedestrian things compared to this.

**proisu** · 01-11-2013, 11:35 AM

what page is the video of draft day by grantland on..iv gone through and cant seem to find.

**marothisu** · 01-11-2013, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by proisu

what page is the video of draft day by grantland on..iv gone through and cant seem to find.

Google is your friend

Royce White Battles Anxiety on Draft Day | Hockumentary - YouTube

**PhillipJCY** · 01-11-2013, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Cycsk

One new thing in the interview that seemed quite significant was Royce saying that the doctor he wants to have the final call on what is safe is his family doctor from when he was a kid. Maybe that doctor has exceptional qualifications regarding anxiety disorders, but it seems that even the Rockets would probably insist on getting their medical opinion from a specialist.

I am sure there is a tremendous amount of comfort for him with having his childhood Doctor be in charge of his care, but that Doctor is not a specialist in the field Royce needs most help in. Royce has probably seen that Doctor enough times to where the Doctor has an ability to read between the lines with Royce and figure out what is truly going on, or maybe the Doctor has another role as a de facto Therapist due to all the time they have spent together.

I think Royce is in a difficult situation with the Doctor thing. He has his family Dr. who he is extremely comfortable with, but is not a specialist. The Rockets might think if he is serious about his treatment then he should go see a specialist about it. Everyone has factors that matter most to them when choosing a treatment plan to use and obviously Royce factors in comfort level and past history over Psychiatric Specialization.

It seems that a big hurdle holding him back is the fact that there doesn't seem to be a set strategy in place ("protocol") for if/when his anxiety strikes. It seems like a lot of this is Anticipatory Anxiety (playing a what-if game in his head), and he doesn't feel comfortable moving forward/ or feels paralyzed until he can relieve some of this Anticipatory Anxiety. It isn't exactly his Anxiety Disorder that is keeping him from the NBA or NBADL, but it's the "what-if X scenario happens" that he is playing in his mind that is triggering his anxiety (if that makes sense).

**Wesley** · 01-11-2013, 11:49 AM

He did say his Mom and her Mom had the anxiety problem.

**marothisu** · 01-11-2013, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by PhillipJCY

I am sure there is a tremendous amount of comfort for him with having his childhood Doctor be in charge of his care, but that Doctor is not a specialist in the field Royce needs most help in. Royce has probably seen that Doctor enough times to where the Doctor has an ability to read between the lines with Royce and figure out what is truly going on, or maybe the Doctor has another role as a de facto Therapist due to all the time they have spent together.

I think Royce is in a difficult situation with the Doctor thing. He has his family Dr. who he is extremely comfortable with, but is not a specialist. The Rockets might think if he is serious about his treatment then he should go see a specialist about it. Everyone has factors that matter most to them when choosing a treatment plan to use and obviously Royce factors in comfort level and past history over Psychiatric Specialization.

It seems that a big hurdle holding him back is the fact that there doesn't seem to be a set strategy in place ("protocol") for if/when his anxiety strikes. It seems like a lot of this is Anticipatory Anxiety (playing a what-if game in his head), and he doesn't feel comfortable moving forward/ or feels paralyzed until he can relieve some of this Anticipatory Anxiety. It isn't exactly his Anxiety Disorder that is keeping him from the NBA or NBADL, but it's the "what-if X scenario happens" that he is playing in his mind that is triggering his anxiety (if that makes sense).

Exactly. It makes total sense too. It's the same reason people keep going to the same restaurants, the same people who cut their hair, the same mechanic, etc etc. It sucks, but it appears as if he is not winning. He needs to realize though that although he'd be seeing a new doctor, there are doctors out there who are just as good, just as nice (if not better) than what he's grown up with. It will take awhile to feel safe, but he needs to know this in his mind.

**Cycsk** · 01-11-2013, 12:43 PM

CBA Uniform Player contract
www.nbpa.org/sites/nbpa.org/files/EXHIBIT%20A.pdf
-7. PHYSICAL CONDITION.

Is the heading that says "Physical Condition" part of the problem? Of course, even if it said "Physical and Mental Condition," he would still object to the protocols in it. Interesting that he doesn't seem to be objecting to the protocols related to Physical Condition. Apparently, he is okay with the team doctors there.

**marothisu** · 01-11-2013, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Cycsk

CBA Uniform Player contract
www.nbpa.org/sites/nbpa.org/files/EXHIBIT%20A.pdf
-7. PHYSICAL CONDITION.

Is the heading that says "Physical Condition" part of the problem? Of course, even if it said "Physical and Mental Condition," he would still object to the protocols in it. Interesting that he doesn't seem to be objecting to the protocols related to Physical Condition. Apparently, he is okay with the team doctors there.

Point (e) seems like the one he's trying to change. I know where he's coming from, and it makes sense. It's kind of like a double edged sword here. On one hand, there are a lot of good trained professionals out there. A professional sports team like the Rockets have the ability to hire THE best people out there, so there's that.

It does surprise me that the team is given so much control though. Almost every health insurance out there, for example, has in network and out of network. It seems as if in the NBA, you can only use a very small list of "in network" doctors. Whereas for any of us with health insurance, we can use anybody we want, but the deal is that the non approved out of network just costs more. There is nothing barring you from using them though. So that part would worry me if I were a player, but going back to the point above..they have the ability to hire THE best doctors at the same time..so really in the end it's just a "I am very comfortable with this person and I want them to be my doctor" which IMO is valid if the doctor is a legit doctor and has been successful in treatment with the subject for many years.

**TurbulentEddie** · 01-11-2013, 06:15 PM

I think wording that forces a team to go by doctors' orders can only work if they're team approved doctors, or, at least, some NBA-approved subset of all doctors. Otherwise, a player could easily "doctor shop" until one says what he wants them to say. That's not to say that's what Royce is trying to do. Article after article has spelled out clearly that he has a hard time trusting new people, whether they be doctors or journalists. Remember how much he trashed the team doctor (was it Dr. Fink? I forget) until he actually talked with him? Anyway, I don't think the NBA (or the NBAPA) can enact this accomodation in as Royce probably wants it.

Which leads us to: "Why the *%&$ isn't Royce just trying to give it a go the way the rules are now?" Well, that seems like it would be the obvious, logical thing to do, but not in Royce's head, for whatever reason. I hesitate to accuse him of being lazy. I could be way off on this, but I think he may have some sort of illusion of grandeur that his (God-given?) purpose in life is to be a rights leader for those with mental health issues. And while I don't disagree that mental health is a big issue that needs advocates, those advocates need to be seen in a positive light by the public, and that's not happening with Royce right now.

I can only hope a switch gets flipped and he does something to get noticed in a positive way again (like he did when taking it to Anthony Davis) so that he can actually become the effective advocate he wants to be.