Royce White facts for kids
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White in 2020
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| Power forward | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 10, 1991 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall |
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | |
| Pro career | 2012–2018 |
| Career history | |
| 2012–2013 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2014 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2014 | →Reno Bighorns |
| 2016–2018 | London Lightning |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Royce Alexander White (born April 10, 1991) is an American former professional basketball player. He also became involved in politics.
White was a top high school basketball player in Minnesota. He won two state championships with his teams. In 2006, he won with DeLaSalle High School. In 2009, he won with Hopkins High School, where his team had a perfect 31–0 record. He was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 2009.
He played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones. He was a standout player, leading his team in many important statistics.
The Houston Rockets picked White in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft. He has Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which means he often feels very worried. For White, this was mainly triggered by a fear of flying. This led to disagreements with the Rockets about travel and mental health support.
White did not play for the Rockets. He played in three games for the Sacramento Kings in 2014. He also played for teams in the NBA G League, which is a league for players who want to get into the NBA. From 2016 to 2018, White played for the London Lightning in Canada. There, he won a championship and was named the league's MVP.
In 2022, White ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican. He did not win that election. In 2024, he ran for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. He lost to the current senator, Amy Klobuchar.
Contents
Early Life
Royce White was born in 1991 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His parents are Kevin Tucker and Rebecca White. He has a diverse background, including Mexican, Norwegian, Welsh, and African-American roots.
High School Basketball
White started his high school basketball career at DeLaSalle High School. His team won a state championship in 2006 when he was a freshman. After his second year, he played in special basketball events like the LeBron James US Skills Academy.
For his senior year, White moved to Hopkins High School. His team won the Class 4A MSHSL Championship in 2009. This was his second state championship. The Hopkins team had an amazing season, winning all 31 of their games. They were ranked 10th nationally by USA Today.
Experts rated White as one of the best high school power forwards in the country in 2009. Many colleges offered him scholarships. He was chosen as a Jordan Brand Classic All-American and was named the 2009 Minnesota Mr. Basketball.
College Career
University of Minnesota
White first went to the University of Minnesota. He faced some issues off the court, which led to him being suspended for the 2009–10 basketball season. He left the University of Minnesota in February 2010. Even with his difficulties, White did well in his classes during his first semester.
Iowa State University
White transferred to Iowa State. He was not allowed to play during the 2010–11 season because of NCAA rules.
In the 2011–12 season, White was named the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year. He also won the Big 12 Rookie of the Week award three times.
White played very well in the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. His team won against Connecticut, and he scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds. His season ended with a strong performance against Kentucky. He was the only player in Division I basketball that season to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
On March 4, 2012, White was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. He was also chosen for the first-team All-Big 12. He was recognized by many sports groups for his excellent play.
On March 21, 2012, White decided to leave college early to enter the 2012 NBA draft.
College Basketball Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Iowa State | 34 | 33 | 31.5 | .534 | .333 | .498 | 9.3 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 13.4 |
Professional Basketball Career
Starting in the NBA
The Houston Rockets drafted Royce White with the 16th pick in the 2012 NBA draft. He was known for his strong body and unique skills. However, he also had a well-known fear of flying due to his anxiety disorder.
White asked the Rockets if he could travel by bus instead of flying for some games. The team and White agreed on a travel plan. But soon after, White had a disagreement with the Rockets about mental health support. This led to him being away from the team.
In December, Houston sent White to their minor league team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. White initially refused to go. After some time, he agreed to join the Vipers in February 2013. He made his professional debut with them on February 12.
White later announced he would stop playing for the Vipers for a short time, based on medical advice. He returned for the final games of the season. The Vipers won the 2013 championship, but White did not play in the playoffs. He traveled by bus for 15 road games that season.
Time with the Kings
On July 13, 2013, the Rockets traded White to the Philadelphia 76ers. He was later waived by the 76ers in October 2013.
On March 6, 2014, White signed a short contract with the Sacramento Kings. He was immediately sent to their minor league team, the Reno Bighorns. He played for the Bighorns and then was called up to the Kings.
On March 21, White played his first NBA game for the Kings. He played for less than a minute. His last NBA game was on March 26, 2014. After his contract ended, the Kings decided not to keep him.
Playing in Canada
On December 8, 2016, White signed with the London Lightning in the NBL Canada. During that season, he achieved a league record by getting 4 triple-doubles (scoring double digits in points, rebounds, and assists).
On May 11, 2017, he was named the 2017 NBL Canada regular season MVP. On June 5, White helped the Lightning win their third NBL Canada Championship. He scored 34 points, had 15 rebounds, and made 9 assists in the final game.
White played for the London Lightning again in the 2017–18 season. He led the league in scoring, averaging 25.4 points per game. In April 2018, he received a long suspension during the playoffs, which ended his season. He was still named to the First Team All-NBLC. After the season, the Lightning announced that White would not return to the team.
In July 2018, White signed a deal with a team in Italy, but he did not report for training. His contract was canceled.
NBA Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | Sacramento | 3 | 0 | 3.0 | .000 | – | – | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
Other Basketball Activities
In May 2019, White was the first player chosen in the Big3 2019 draft. This is a professional 3-on-3 basketball league. He played for the Enemies team. In 2021, White joined the Power team in the Big3 league.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
| Royce White | |
|---|---|
| Other names | The Main Attraction |
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Weight | 260 lb (120 kg) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Team | The Academy (2019–present) |
| Years active | 2019–2021 (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 1 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
In early 2019, White wrote a book called MMA x NBA, A Critique of Modern Sport in America. He also announced that he was starting a career in mixed martial arts (MMA).
After two years of training, White had his first professional MMA fight on December 10, 2021. He lost the fight by a unanimous decision.
Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Daiqwon Buckley | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 120 | December 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States |
Political Career
White has been involved in politics as a Republican. He has shared his views on various topics.
Protests and Activism
White led several protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020. These protests were connected to the Black Lives Matter movement. White later clarified that he was not officially part of the Black Lives Matter organization.
In July 2021, White gained media attention for protesting against the Uyghur genocide during a basketball interview.
Running for Office
On February 22, 2022, White announced he would run for the Republican nomination for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota. He lost the primary election.
In August 2023, White announced he would run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2024 as a Republican. He won his party's nomination in May 2024 and the primary election in August 2024. He lost the general election to the current senator.
On his campaign website, White talked about his mental health struggles. He also suggested that modern mental illness is linked to materialism and a lack of spirituality.
After losing the 2024 Senate race, White said he might run again in 2026 for a different Senate seat or for Governor.
Personal Life
Royce White has Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This condition is mainly triggered by his well-known fear of flying.
White has four children. He is a Catholic.
