“I can’t do this.”
“You know it’s interesting when you have an injury.”
“I’m in the middle of a friggin’ panic attack.”
“We all know the stereotypes; boys are taught at a young age,
if they show any sign or emotion/talk about their feelings,
or seek support in any capacity, they’re soft.”
“First and foremost, mental health is very relevant.”
”Everybody’s going through something.”
The NBA is pro-mental health…
best thing I did was come out and say hey I need some help.”
There was a player who did the same…
“Royce White”
“ROYCE TO THE TIN!”
“Royce White of Iowa State”
“It’s been quite a journey to get to this point for that young man.”
His journey should be a PSA to all.
1 in 5 people have a mental health condition,
affecting over 40 million Americans.
Royce White is at the forefront. Suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder
and O.C.D, everyday is a struggle. Even his closet, albeit meticulous, is stressful.
Oh, and he DESPISES flying.
“The sweaty palms come, fastened heartbeat comes. Throwing up?
Throwing up has come before. I get nervous when people even talk about planes.
When drafted by the Houston Rockets…
An addendum was constructed; White requested travel by land, not air, to away games,
citing the Americans with Disabilities Act, AND an independent doctor
“who will remain neutral and keep the interests in (mental) health."
This person “would have the ultimate authority,
even over Rockets managements and coaches,
to determine whether he is fit to play.”
This is not the first time an NBA player has done so, see Kawhi Leonard with the Spurs.
Rockets GM Daryl Morey publicly stated “the team bent over backwards” to assist White,
providing recommendations from a world-renowned psychiatrist.
They sent him to the then-D-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers,
and per his doctor,
White refused to report, returned to H-Town, and was traded to Philadelphia.
In the process he was fined, suspended, and let go.
He bounced from Philly, to Sacramento, and was a champion in the National Basketball League of Canada,
throughout the process advocating for mental health.
Back in the NBA, Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan, two fabulous pro’s,
were anointed as champions on the mental health awareness spectrum.
Kevin Love revealed he had a panic attack during a game,
and credited the Cavs for diligently assisting him in finding a therapist.
DeMar DeRozan openly admitted suffering depression,
coining himself a “sacrificial lamb” for the cause.
Royce White had none of it…
”DeMar DerRozan saying “sacrificial lamb is just...
it’s categorically wrong, for sure.
Because? Because he wasn’t.”
Years later, he stated “The media shaped it like I’m this anxious kid and
I need all this special help,
but it wasn’t about that.
It was about creating a policy for people who have mental health disorders.
However, the NBA and NBPA announced they’ll run an
independent mental wellness program that is being jointly
funded by the league and union, later hiring their first ever director.
Is this the perfect system? Of course not.
The topic of mental health is fresh and leagues are just discovering the aid their employees,
the players, require.
You know who got the conversation started?
ROYCE.
WHITE.
Much like Colin Kaepernick, Michael Sam, and Jason Collins,
the public’s immediate reaction is confusion in the form of an unjustified judgment.
The NBA has displayed their commitment to players now UNAFRAID
to go public with their mental struggles.
Royce White brought this to the forefront. It may not be written in the papers,
but Royce’s pursuance for a better future for those that follow should be fulfilling enough.
“Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.”
He questioned the system.
He fought for the mental health cause.
He was the sacrificial lamb. Making an impact, Royce.
That is the strongest legacy one could ever ask for.