Change of Plans: Royce White Issues Statement Refusing NBA D-League Assignment

Despite being assigned to the NBA D-League for the second time this season, Rockets' rookie Royce White has declined to go, yet again.

But this time, White has issued a formal statement explaining his refusal. The statement itself calls the Rockets out for the organization's alleged lack of knowledge and poor judgement when attempting to deal with his situation. Though publicly it's been said that the team has given White ample support and care, he happens to disagree.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and after having to deal with such a disorder throughout his life, White is probably more justified in feeling a certain way than anyone can imagine.

But he's going about addressing the issue all wrong. Going against the Rockets like he has is likely to solve nothing. If there truly was a discrepancy, and White felt as though team officials needed to do a better job at comprehending the issue at hand, this should have been addressed behind closed doors.

If White had considered a potential future as a member of the Houston Rockets, he would have gone about this differently.

Now, what becomes of the situation? Not only does White's statement make it difficult for him to move on with the Rockets (regardless of whether or not both parties would want to), but it also appears a D-League assignment is no longer in the cards, be it by Houston, or anybody else.

Whichever teams potentially chooses to take him on next needs to have time on their side. This includes time for the rookie to get things right on a personal level (figuring out what the best course of action will be in order to begin his NBA career), but also, time for him to develop as a player as well. It's ironic that the D-League is all about that. Where does White go from here?

Instead of pondering that all too much at this point, let's simply allow his statement to do the talking at this point. That, in full, can be read 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.