Royce refuses to play in D League

[MadCy]

I guess I don't have an debilitating issues like this so I probably don't "understand". However I'm willing to bet there are many, many people out there that do, and still go to work. Or, maybe they don't go to work, and most importantly they they don't act like they are proud of it and beg for attention.

He did a fine job while at Iowa State and I'm glad he was successful for the team. I'll always remember him for three things: 1. Air balling free throws 2. Winning us some big games. 3. Being an immature adult in the real world.

[LibertyCy]

I just quit following the attention seeker

[Wesley]

@Highway_30: Funny, headlines read "Royce refuses D-League assignment." NO! I refuse to go to work period. UNSAFE for just anyone to make medical calls.

Well as long as you're refusing to do ANY work then that makes it okay.

Sounds like he can only play ball with his doctor on the sidelines. He is a package deal.

[kingcy]

Sounds like he can only play ball with his doctor on the sidelines. He is a package deal.

Was his doctor at his side when he was getting into trouble in Minny?

[VTXCyRyD]

If you saw all the joy and positive things he brought to the University and community the past two years and then turn your back on him while he struggles mightily at the next stage in his life, then yes, you have some bad character.

You may be the bad judge of character. Royce has done nothing to show that he is trying to work through his problems.

[clonedude]

My take on this has evolved to where I don’t think he wants to play basketball at all. He was able to travel and play at ISU without even missing a practice as far as we know so it is not like he cannot play or travel. He is guaranteed his $3.4M for two years if he is cut. To not pay him the Rockets need to show he didn’t meet the contract terms. Royce can hide behind his disorder to avoid the contract termination issues. Looks to me like he is simply out to steal the money and than go do what he wants, be that his music or some other endeavor. The Rockets hosed themselves by getting into this in the first place and will end up paying the extortion money (after the lawsuits).

I don't see why the Rockets should owe him a dime? You say the Rockets need to show that Royce didn't meet his contract terms.... well I'd say that not showing up for any mandotory practices, meetings, games, and also declining to go to the D-league would amount to not fulfilling your end of the bargain.

I loved Royce when he was here, and he did do a lot of great things around the Ames community. But the NBA is a business, and a TON of people would just die to be in Royce's shoes as an NBA player making tons of money and leading the easy life. But all he does is whine and complain about it.

In this situation, I almost hope the Rockets are able to get rid of him and not pay him a dime either. I'm so sick of these athletes that have been given everything to them and babied for years and they don't appreciate just how good they have it. Well, Royce will find out when he's bagging groceries for $8/hr and can't pay his bills. Then, and only then, will he maybe learn a lesson about this situation and just how stupid he looks.

[tyler24]

What did Babb say?

Nothing...I just know he watched over him a lot. He was always with him when other people went to party and stuff. So I doubt he would say anything bad about him.

[TallKidIsTall]

To listen to this board you'd think Tinsley was a bench warmer for a couple seasons and chronic felon.

Outside of Hornecek he has the best career NBA stats of any player ISU (and Iowa) has ever produced.

did you forget ricky davis?

dude was an idiot but put up much bigger stats than tinsley in the nba and played just as long

also don nelson and probably bj armstrong had better careers

[ZJohnson]

Am I the only one that doesn't give a **** about this anymore?

[IHavNoCyCash]

So pretty much everyone has turned on him? Screw that,not me!!! You'll get it figured out Royce, and its going to be that much more rewarding to prove all these naysayers wrong. Turning your back on Royce is pathetic and is a tell to your character.

more of a tell of yours....tbh

[ISUChippewa]

I won't condone Royce's recent actions, and I can't comprehend what would lead him to make them...and that's the problem; I have absolutely no idea what it's like to be a 21 year old father with a mental illness involved in multi-million dollar contract negotiations with a professional sports franchise. Because of this, I don't think it's fair for me to be upset or overly judgmental.

Maybe he's right about all of this, and maybe he's in the wrong; I have no way of knowing. The only word that can accurately describe how I feel is disappointment. I was really looking forward to seeing Royce contribute in the NBA and set a great example for people with mental illnesses. I now doubt that will ever happen. I was so proud that our basketball staff and community believed in him and gave him a second chance that so many people don't ever get. While I was certain at the end of the year that he genuinely appreciated the opportunity given to him, and him visiting that school for kids in Des Moines was one of the most heartwarming things I'd ever seen, I'm now left wondering if it was all an act. It's a shame.

I hope he finds his niche, whatever that may be.

Very well-written, and this pretty much sums up where I am too. If you remember during the NCAA tournament I posted a thread about meeting him in person at the Galt Hotel in Louisville and how impressed both my father and I were with him and how friendly and personable he was. That's why my avatar pic is with him. I was really looking forward to following his career in the NBA since I had formed that personal connection with him, even if it was just a chance meeting for a few minutes.

Now it appears that myself and other die-hard Cyclone basketball fans will never get that chance. I do hope that something good comes out of this for Royce and that it becomes a worthwhile learning experience, even if he never puts on a Rockets (or any other teams) uniform.

[BoxsterCy]

I don't see why the Rockets should owe him a dime? You say the Rockets need to show that Royce didn't meet his contract terms.... well I'd say that not showing up for any mandotory practices, meetings, games, and also declining to go to the D-league would amount to not fulfilling your end of the bargain.

I loved Royce when he was here, and he did do a lot of great things around the Ames community. But the NBA is a business, and a TON of people would just die to be in Royce's shoes as an NBA player making tons of money and leading the easy life. But all he does is whine and complain about it.

In this situation, I almost hope the Rockets are able to get rid of him and not pay him a dime either. I'm so sick of these athletes that have been given everything to them and babied for years and they don't appreciate just how good they have it. Well, Royce will find out when he's bagging groceries for $8/hr and can't pay his bills. Then, and only then, will he maybe learn a lesson about this situation and just how stupid he looks.

I actually agree with you, I just think that, right or wrong, the whole thing is going to be contested. If I were the Rocket's I would offer him a 10% buyout and offer a substantial donation to some group working with folks with anxiety issues. The response to that would tell us whether he is just trying to extort the Rockets or whether he is sincere about helping folks. I am betting on cynical and not sincere at all about playing basketball.

[docholihawk]

I have never followed Royce on twitter and I don't know any of the details but I think maybe this year might be a year where Royce practices with the team and living in Houston and gets his life stabilized and maybe everything works out well next year. It would be similar to what he did in Ames. I think anytime he has to be rushed to do anything would cause his anxiety to flair up. Maybe he just needs time to get his life in order before he can contribute to the team. When he first went to Minnesota he had problems then he went to Ames and had a year to get acclimated to life there before he played and was very successful. Maybe a year in Houston will give him the time to get adjusted and then he can do what he does best. He does have some incredible talent and sometimes you have to wait for it. It seems to work pretty well in college football when someone is redshirted. It's not always the physical maturity that is needed for freshman, sometimes it's the mental part that needs to mature or adjust to a new situation. Best of luck to Royce White.

[CycloneErik]

I have never followed Royce on twitter and I don't know any of the details but I think maybe this year might be a year where Royce practices with the team and living in Houston and gets his life stabilized and maybe everything works out well next year. It would be similar to what he did in Ames. I think anytime he has to be rushed to do anything would cause his anxiety to flair up. Maybe he just needs time to get his life in order before he can contribute to the team. When he first went to Minnesota he had problems then he went to Ames and had a year to get acclimated to life there before he played and was very successful. Maybe a year in Houston will give him the time to get adjusted and then he can do what he does best. He does have some incredible talent and sometimes you have to wait for it. It seems to work pretty well in college football when someone is redshirted. It's not always the physical maturity that is needed for freshman, sometimes it's the mental part that needs to mature or adjust to a new situation. Best of luck to Royce White.

The big problem with your reasonable idea is that Royce isn't practicing with the team. In the last couple days, he began to use that words "I am not reporting to work."

He isn't doing a darn thing to adjust to the NBA right now. It's sad.
I haven't read a lot of his Twitter stuff, but I know that you are better off without reading it.

[TallKidIsTall]

@Highway_30: Funny, headlines read "Royce refuses D-League assignment." NO! I refuse to go to work period. UNSAFE for just anyone to make medical calls.

Well as long as you're refusing to do ANY work then that makes it okay.

odds that he'd still be refusing if he was on the rockets roster instead?

id go with like 2%