.jpg) White in 2020 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 10, 1991 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2012: 1st round, 16th overall pick |
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | |
| Playing career | 2012–2018 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Career history | |
| 2012–2013 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2014 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2014 | →Reno Bighorns |
| 2016–2018 | London Lightning |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Royce Alexander White (born April 10, 1991) is an American political candidate and former professional basketball player. He was the Republican nominee in the 2024 United States Senate election in Minnesota.
White was the 2009 Minnesota Mr. Basketball and a two-time Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) championship team member. He was a Class 3A MSHSL champion in 2006 with DeLaSalle High School as a freshman and a Class 4A MSHSL champion in 2009 with Hopkins High School as a senior, leading Hopkins to a perfect (31–0) record. White played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones, leading the 2011–12 team in every major statistical category.
White was selected by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft. He has a history of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that is mainly triggered by a fear of flying, which led to disagreements with the Rockets over mental health issues and travel.[1][2][3] While White did not play for the Rockets, he played in three games for the Sacramento Kings in 2014. He also played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Reno Bighorns of the NBA G League. From 2016 to 2018, White played for the London Lightning of the NBL Canada, winning an NBL Canada championship and an MVP award.
In 2022, White announced his candidacy as a Republican for the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota's 5th congressional district. He ran as a right-wing populist, embracing a host of conspiracy theories, and was defeated in the primary by Cicely Davis. White received the Republican nomination for the state's 2024 U.S. Senate election. His Senate campaign was marred by a series of controversial statements, including that "the bad guys won World War II" and disparaging remarks about women. He lost to incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar in the general election.
- ^ Devine, Dan (March 20, 2018). "Why Royce White is skeptical the NBA genuinely cares about players' mental health". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ "NBA's Royce White Refuses to Fly, but Team Accommodates". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ Martin Wrenn, Jill (October 9, 2012). "NBA rookie Royce White battles anxiety disorder and fear of flying". CNN. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.