NBA rookie Royce White is not with the Houston Rockets at the team's training camp in McAllen, Texas, because the franchise does not have a plan to "ensure long-term health" for the former Iowa State star, who wrestles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to a statement he released to ESPN.com on Wednesday night.
White will not join the franchise at training camp until he has "something in writing" that addresses the team's plan to treat his anxiety disorder and OCD, according to his publicist, California-based China Myers.
"There are often negative consequences to mental illness when not given the proper support," said White, according to a statement released through Myers. "Often, those consequences are more severe for the surrounding people than the sufferer him/herself. I am not willing to allow those consequences to befall on myself or others close to me.
"It causes me anxiety to know that serious consequences could happen if I do not express what I deal with, or if I am not truthful enough to ask for what I need to be healthy. For me, hiding is no longer a healthy option in treating my anxiety or OCD, so I have asked for some help from the organization to ensure long-term health for myself.
"It has been determined that without a specific plan in place, the current workplace is not healthy for me. I feel that it is essential to formulate the right plan for a better chance of execution, despite other timelines or agendas. The most important agenda to me is a plan that is healthy. Therefore, a plan has been requested that will support a healthy work environment. In addition to this, it has been requested that the standard requirements for players in regards to this plan be voided because it is not a standard situation.