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-wingpopulist, 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.
Early life
White was born in 1991 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Kevin Tucker and Rebecca White. He is of multiracial origin, with Mexican, Norwegian, Welsh, and African-American ancestry.[4]
High school basketball career
White went to DeLaSalle High School for his freshman, sophomore, and junior years.[5] The team won a state championship in 2006.[6] Following his sophomore season, in which he led DeLaSalle to a 19–8 record, White participated in the 2007 LeBron James US Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio and The Nike Global Challenge at the University of Portland.[7]
For his senior year, White attended Hopkins High School. The team won the Class 4A MSHSL Championship in 2009, giving him his second state championship.[8] Hopkins finished 10th in the final USA Today national poll, with a 31–0 record.[9]
He was rated as the 2nd, 8th and 10th best high school power forward in the national class of 2009 by Rivals.com, ESPN.com and Scout.com, respectively.[10][11][12] He had dozens of collegiate scholarship offers.[7] White was one of 20 2009 Jordan Brand Classic All-Americans,[13] was recognized by the St. Paul Pioneer Press as a First-Team All-State honoree,[14] and was named the 2009 Minnesota Mr. Basketball.[6]
White pleaded guilty to theft and disorderly conduct in connection with an October 13, 2009, incident at the Mall of America; he was accused of taking $100 worth of clothes and of fifth-degree assault, when he allegedly pushed a mall security officer to the ground twice, but he claimed the security officer was charging at him and he was defending himself.[15] He was suspended for the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.[16]
Because White did not officially depart Minnesota until the middle of his second semester, he was academically ineligible to receive a scholarship from any Division I school in 2010.[20] He transferred to Iowa State prior to using any of his athletic eligibility at Minnesota and applied to the NCAA for a waiver to be eligible to play during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season,[14] but the NCAA denied his waiver.[19]
At Iowa State, White was voted the 2011–12 Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year. During the season, he won the Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week award three times.[21]
White had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the 2012 Big 12 men's basketball tournament in Iowa State's loss to Texas.[22] In Iowa State's opening game of the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, White posted 15 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Connecticut.[23] His season concluded with a 23-point, nine-rebound, four-assist, and three-steal performance in a loss to Kentucky.[24] White fouled out for the first time in his career in the game and ended the season with 11 double-doubles.[25] White finished the season as the team leader in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks,[26] making him the only player in Division I basketball to lead his team in all five categories.[27]
On March 4, 2012, White was named the unanimous Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and was recognized as a first-team All-Big 12 selection and a unanimous Big 12 All-Rookie Team selection by the Big 12 coaches.[28] In addition, he was selected as Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and was recognized as a First team All-Big 12 selection by both the Associated Press and the Kansas City Star.[29] He concluded the regular season second in the Big 12 in rebounding and fifth in assists with averages of 9.2 and 5.2, respectively.[28] On March 1, he was named to the 30-player midseason Naismith College Player of the Year Award watchlist.[30] He was selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to its 10-man 2011–12 Men's All-District VI (IA, MO, KS, OK, NE, ND, SD) Team.[31] White was a first team selection to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All‐District 8 team on March 14.[32] White was named an honorable mention Associated Press All-American.[33]
On March 21, 2012, White chose to forgo his junior and senior years at ISU to enter the 2012 NBA draft.[34]
White was called the "mystery pick"[35] of the 2012 NBA draft due to his NBA ready body, legal issues, point-forward skill set, and public disclosure of his severe fear of flying during his season at Iowa State.
At the 2012 NBA Draft Combine, White measured at 6'8" and had the widest hands, 11.5 inches (29.2 cm), of any player participating.[36] He was drafted by the Houston Rockets on June 28, 2012, with the 16th selection.[37] He was represented by Andrew Vye and Andy Miller of the ASM Sports as his agents.[38]
White has an anxiety disorder and a fear of flying.[3] He asked the Rockets for permission to travel by bus when necessary in order to limit his flight schedule.[39] The Rockets and White came to an agreement regarding travel, including allowing White travel by personal bus rather than flying. White missed the first week of training camp before this agreement was put in place.[40][41]
A few games into the season, White had a dispute with the Rockets regarding mental health matters that led to his absence from the team.[42][43] By December 26, 2012, he had not shown up to work with the Rockets, according to head coach Kevin McHale.[44] On December 29, Houston assigned White to its D-League affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers.[45] On December 30, White refused assignment to the Vipers.[46] On January 6, 2013, the Rockets suspended White without pay for failing to perform his contract.[47] On January 26, the Rockets and White mutually agreed that he would report to the Vipers on February 11.[48] On February 12, White made his professional debut with the Vipers in a 139–122 win over the Maine Red Claws, playing 18 minutes off the bench and leading the team with eight rebounds.[49][50][51]
A February 8 story in USA Today story explained White's situation. Although White endured 20 flights for travel during his season at Iowa State, the Rockets' NBA schedule called for 98 flights. White had attempted to cope with travel in college through the use of Benadryl and Xanax, but found that both reduced his energy level. White stated that he was concerned that the increased number of flights and the long-term use of the medications could lead to addiction.[52]
On March 21, White announced via Twitter that following professional medical advice of team doctors along with his doctors, he would no longer be playing for the Vipers.[53] After missing three road games to Indiana and Pennsylvania, White returned to the Vipers for their final six games.[54] The Vipers went on to sweep three playoff series and win the 2013 championship,[55][56][57] but White did not play in the playoffs.[58] Over the course of the season, White traveled using a bus provided by the Rockets for 15 road games.[59]
2014
On July 13, 2013, the Rockets traded White and the rights to Furkan Aldemir to the Philadelphia 76ers for future considerations.[60] On September 27, at media day, White stated that he planned to travel with the team when necessary (even on its pre-season trip to Spain).[61] However, White did not make the October 4 trip with the team to Spain.[62] According to 76ers coach Brett Brown, the decision was made based on advice from the team physician.[63] On October 25, 2013, White was waived by the 76ers.[64]
On March 6, 2014, White signed a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings and was immediately assigned to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League.[65][66] He made his debut for the Bighorns the next day in a 112–86 win over the Idaho Stampede.[67] On March 14, 2014, he was recalled by the Kings.[68] On March 18, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Kings.[69][70] On March 21, White made his NBA debut, playing 56 seconds and missing his only field-goal attempt in the Kings' 99–79 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[71] White's final NBA appearance came on March 26, 2014, in a 107–99 loss to the New York Knicks. Royce committed two fouls in seven minutes of action, but otherwise accumulated no statistics. After White's second 10-day contract expired, the Kings decided to part ways with him.[72]
2016–2018
On December 8, 2016, White signed with the London Lightning of the NBL Canada.[73] During the season, he set a league record for triple-doubles with 4 (plus one in the playoffs).[74] On May 11, 2017, he was named the 2017 NBL Canada regular season league MVP.[75] On June 5, White posted 34 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists to lead the Lightning to their 3rd NBL Canada Championship since the league was formed in 2011.[76][77]
On July 28, 2017, White re-signed with the London Lightning for the 2017–18 season.[78] He led the league in scoring with 25.4 points per game.[79] On April 27, 2018, White received an 11-game suspension during the 2018 playoffs for a verbal outburst with an official and the deputy commissioner of the league, effectively ending his season.[80] White was named to the First Team All-NBLC.[81] After the end of the season, the London Lightning announced that White would not be returning to the team.[82]
On July 12, 2018, White signed a deal with Auxilium Torino of the Italian LBA and the EuroCup Basketball.[83] However, he did not report for training camp and his contract was voided on August 23, 2018.[84]
In May 2019, White was the first overall pick in the Big3 2019 draft. He was drafted by the Enemies team.[85] He was ejected from his first game in the league on June 22 following a fight with Josh Smith.[86] In 2021, White joined Power and participated in the team's eight weeks of play.[87]
In early 2019, White released a book, MMA x NBA, A Critique of Modern Sport in America, and announced that he was transitioning into mixed martial arts.[89][90][91]
After two years of training in mixed martial arts, White made his professional mixed martial arts debut against Daiqwon Buckley at LFA 120 on December 10, 2021. He lost the bout to Buckley via unanimous decision.[92]
The New York Post referred to White as "a far-right populist," who has "embraced conspiracy theories ranging from the origins of the coronavirus to the integrity of the 2020 presidential election and satanic influences in the federal government."[93][better source needed] White has referred to the Federal Reserve as a "corporate merged power – of globalist power, of financial tyranny" and has criticized the "pervasive effect" of the LGBTQ community on society.[93][better source needed] The Minnesota Reformer has referred to White as a "far-right conspiracy theorist" running an "anti-establishment campaign", part of a group of "burn-it-all-down activists" in the Minnesota Republican Party.[94]
White previously described himself on his Twitter profile as "Antisemitic, Blackface, Extremist, Cis-Male, Sexist, Misogynist, Homophobic, Transphobic." When asked about this description of himself, White said: "I was listing all the things I've been called by [critics]."[95]
2020 Black Lives Matter protests
White led several protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.[96][97][98][99] While these protests were described as Black Lives Matter protests and associated with that movement, White later stated on his website that he was "never apart [sic] of the Black Lives Matter organization".[100]
2021 China protests
On July 10, 2021, White received media attention for his protest against the Uyghur genocide during a Big3 postgame interview. Commentators contrasted his statements with stances taken by the NBA.[90]
Following the October 28, 2022, attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, White promoted the conspiracy theory that the attack was the result of Paul Pelosi's involvement in an extramarital gay affair.[103]
According to a report from Axios, White did not vote for his own campaign in the 2022 primary.[104]
According to an opinion editorial in The New York Times, in 2023, White appeared on Steve Bannon's podcast and said: "Look, let's just be frank. Women have become too mouthy."[106] This comment was later circulated by the Kamala Harris presidential campaign.[107][better source needed]
2024 campaign for United States Senate
On August 16, 2023, White announced, via Twitter, that he would be running for the U.S. Senate in 2024 as a Republican in the State of Minnesota.[108] He won the state party's endorsement on May 18, 2024,[109] and won the Republican primary on August 13, 2024.[110][111][112]
In June 2024, he tweeted a map of drinking fountains in Minneapolis, claiming it was a map of crimes.[113] On his campaign website, White references his mental health struggles and also claims that mental illness in contemporary society was caused by materialism and a decline in spirituality.[citation needed] He also calls for an American jubilee which would eliminate taxes.[114] In August 2024, White said that Republicans who think "suburban women are gonna be the path to victory" have a "cucked mentality".[115]
In June 2024, the watchdog group Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), accusing White of misappropriating more than $157,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses.[116][118] In July, The Daily Beast published an article alleging that White spent donor funds from his 2022 congressional campaign at a strip club in Miami after his election loss.[118][121] The article also said that FEC filings from the 2022 campaign showed "more than $100,000 in outgoing wire transfers and checks with no stated recipient or purpose".[121] White has denied any improper use of donor money, and reported reimbursing his campaign for expenses including the strip club in an FEC filing shortly after the publication of the Daily Beast article. He wrote in a social media post that he enjoys the food at the club.[118]
In October 2024, one of White's tweets from 2022 began circulating, in which White claimed "The bad guys won World War II. There were no 'good guys' in that war. The controlling interests had a jump ball. If you look closely, you see the link between liberalism and communism in the Allied forces. Remember what Gen[eral] Patton said and why they capped him." White was referencing conspiracy theories regarding the death of George Patton.
When asked about the tweet, White told Newsweek: "By 'bad guys,' I mean those who benefited from World War II without fighting in it—people who funded the wars, gained political power or institutional prominence," he said. "I'm talking about entities like the United Nations, which I'm not the first to criticize, and organizations like the [International Monetary Fund] and the World Bank. The crony capitalism that spread globally after the war—yes, they won World War II."[122][123]
2026 campaign for United States Senate and Governor
Immediately following his loss in the 2024 Senate race, White expressed interest in running again in 2026, this time for the seat held by Democratic Senator Tina Smith. However he has also stated that he is also expressing interest in running for Governor as well.[124]
White's grandfather has distanced himself from White, stating: "There’s no way I can support my grandson supporting the GOP, and in essence, Trump."[129]
^Dalla Costa, Morris. "Lightning GM looks ahead after trading away star". London Free Press. PostMedia. Retrieved June 21, 2018. As for White, Frijia says he talked to the former most valuable player "three or four weeks ago." "He won't be returning to the Lightning," Frijia said.
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