:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3232127/150637202.0.jpg)
But wait, there's more.
We heard from Royce White earlier tonight through a statement. He's clearly not happy with how the Rockets are treating him, and while the legitimacy of his complaints is incredibly debatable, he's not going to go away quietly.
Case in point: This Twitter rant White railed off shortly after the public got word of his statement:
I'm most defiantly not AWOL... There are many things here ppl don't know, #Honesty is what I'm sticking with. @houstonrockets "Luke 12:3"
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
Problem goes back WAY before D-League assignment. This about #Consideration and #Health it isn't about Rebounds & Money.
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
My "anxiety" hasn't caused inconsistency in my participation with the team from training camp until 72hrs ago, ✈ to DET, ✈s Isn't the issue.
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
I'm most definitely* not AWOL... There are many things here ppl don't know, #Honesty is what I'm sticking with. @houstonrockets "Luke 12:3"
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
It's sad to think ppl ACTUALLY think 🏀 should be higher on my priority list then health..you can't enjoy success OR money without health.
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
I'd waste my "Talent", to stand up for myself and what's right, regarding my health 10x's out 10. #Logical Player "Commodity" league.
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
"your a COMMODITY" and "we'll support your health needs even if its inconvenient..." just don't go. My health can't afford such an ideal.
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
While #anxiety is the issue, the main piece of that isn't AIRPLANES, it's asking for support 4 my disorder thats consistent and fair.
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
Again My "Anxiety" is not well but not BAD, my main WORRY is being treated as a digit instead of a HUMAN, in the case of my health. — Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
I informed the #Rockets of every practice I was going to miss. There were no unexplained misses. — Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
Its important to tweet to lend #Transparency and RT to reveal ignorance. I do understand being scared of being vocal tho, just not who I am.
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 14, 2012
For his health purposes, we should all hope Royce is okay. But for basketball purposes, these tweets are just the worst.
White's path to success was always going to be determined by the elasticity (or stretchability) of the line between White being able to deal with his issues and White asking for too much help. Apparently that line is incredibly elastic, and Royce has stretched it so far towards the second option that he may indeed be willing to give up basketball altogether if his "requests" aren't met.
As fans, we're clearly on a different page. We figure, "Hey, he's a professional athlete, he'll do whatever he can to play." Well, Royce isn't your normal professional athlete. And the worst part about all of this is that there doesn't appear to be a specific incident that set the two sides apart. Instead, it's a difference in mindset and philosophy, and for Royce, that gap is going to be RIDICULOUSLY difficult to close, especially with a team that openly calls its players "assets." Obviously, tweeting about private affairs isn't going to help anything.
Keep checking back with us, but perhaps what we thought was a temporary roadblock could instead end up blowing up in everyone's face sooner than we ever could have imagined.