Royce White is a former NBA player and civil rights activist from the United States. During his NBA career, he appeared in only three regular-season games.

Due to his NBA-ready body, legal difficulties, point-forward skill set, and public exposure of his terrible fear of flying during his season at Iowa State, White was dubbed the “mystery pick” of the 2012 NBA Draft.

The player was picked by the Houston Rockets in the first round and is now considered a “draft flop.” After a brief absence from professional basketball, Royce returned in 2017 to play his first full pro season in Canada.

He also earned the NBL Canada regular-season MVP in 2017 and led the lightning to the NBL Canada championship.

This article contains all the details regarding Royce’s personal and professional life, including his career highlights and important accomplishments.

But first, some quick facts about the player. 

Quick Facts

Royce White: Early Life and Family

Royce was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1991 as the son of Kevin Tucker and Rebecca White. He is of mixed descent, including Mexican, Norwegian, Welsh, and African-American ancestors. 

White began playing sports at the age of five in the areas of South St. Paul, Rondo, and North Minneapolis. Frank White, his grandpa, has been a longstanding presence in athletics and amusement.

Royce’s great grandfather, Don Francisco Rangel was the first voluntary consular representative of Mexico. Don volunteered time at political, social, and cultural events while assisting individuals in need.

He also helped recent arrivals from Mexico settle, assisted individuals in acquiring residency papers, and submitted formal complaints in cases of discrimination and police brutality.

Similarly, Royce’s great grandmother, Crescentia Rangel was a community leader. She was heavily involved in the local church “Our Lady of Guadalupe”.

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Moreover, Crescentia was considered one of the “Keepers of culture” for the West Side of St. Paul, one of Minnesota’s largest Mexican communities.

Royce White: High School Career

From his freshman to junior years, Royce attended DeLaSalle High School.

After leading DeLaSalle to a 19–8 record in his second season, Royce attended the 2007 LeBron James US Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio. Likewise, the player also attended the Nike Global Challenge at the University of Portland. 

White attended Hopkins High School during his final year. He won his second state title in 2009 after switching to Hopkins, when he won the Class 4A MSHSL Championship. 

With a 31–0 record, Hopkins finished 10th in the final USA Today national poll. As a result, Royce received a slew of university scholarship offers, including those from Minnesota, Creighton, Illinois, Iowa, Purdue, Texas, USC, Iowa State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin.

The player was also one of 20 2009 Jordan Brand Classic All-Americans, and he was named a First-Team All-State honoree by the St. Paul Pioneer Press. 

Similarly, White was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 2009 and was a member of two Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) championship teams.

Further, he was a Class 3A MSHSL champion as a freshman with DeLaSalle High School in 2006 and a Class 4A MSHSL champion as a senior with Hopkins High School in 2009, guiding his school to a perfect (31-0) record.

Royce White: Basketball Career

Royce attended Minnesota and Iowa State, where he was selected Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, first-team All-Big 12, and the Big 12 All-Rookie team in 2012.

The Houston Rockets selected Royce White 16th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. He played with the Sacramento Kings in 2014.

The player also played in the G League and the National Basketball League of Canada. Overthere, he was the NBL Canada MVP, scoring champion, and champion for the London Lightning in 2017.

Awards

• 2× All-NBL Canada First Team (2018, 2017)
• 2018 NBL Canada scoring champion 
• 2017 NBL Canada MVP 
• 2012 First-team All-Big 12, Big 12 All-Rookie Team, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
• NBL Canada champion (2018, 2017)
• 2009 Jordan Brand Classic All-American, Minnesota Mr. Basketball 

Did Royce White play Martial Arts? 

In early 2019, White published MMA x NBA: A Critique of Modern Sport in America and announced his shift to mixed martial arts.

The work’s essence, however, is a thesis on sport, outlining its competitive underpinnings, institutional structures, relationship to society, and future prospects.

The player trained in mixed martial arts for two years.

Following that, the player made his professional mixed martial arts debut against Daiqwon Buckley at LFA 120 on December 10, 2021. However, Royce was defeated by a unanimous decision.

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Mental Health Activist

The six-foot-eight Royce White was a formidable standout on the court with a clever and articulate personality. He was one of just a few NCAA players to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

Unlike other players, he spoke publicly in college about his lifelong issue with anxiety, which made front-page news because only a few sportsmen at the time discussed their mental health openly.

White discovered the NBA lacked a mental health policy during his rookie season. As a result, they both pushed back forcefully.

The player missed the start of NBA camp on October 1, in order to work out a contract with the Rockets and the NBA that addressed the league’s mental health policy, or lack thereof.

Following consultations with his own long-term doctor, White asked for authorization to travel by bus when required in order to keep his flight schedule to a minimum.

The Rockets and Royce reached an arrangement on travel, which included permitting White to go by personal bus rather than flying. Before this deal, the player missed the first week of training camp. 

Further, a few games into the season, Royce had a disagreement with the team over the irregularity of how mental health was handled.

He emphasized the risk of team executives being able to make judgments on mental health and health while having no mental health expertise. As a result, he was unable to join the team.

These occurrences coincided with the Rockets’ intention to assign White, along with two other young players, to their Rio Grande Valley Vipers NBA Development League club. The problem remained unsolved by the conclusion of the week.

Continuing Advocacy

NBA reached an impasse as Royce continued to campaign openly for a mental health policy. Royce, who was at that time, 21, refused to play another NBA game until a thorough policy was in place.

It was a position made as much for himself as for his fellow players, the whole league, and the world that it affected.

Royce believed that the struggle stretched well beyond Royce, who views the NBA as an ideal platform for bringing the topic of mental health out into the open, exemplifying reform and eradicating stigma.

And, gradually, as more NBA players have come forth in the past years to speak about their inner battles, and as coaches and general managers have joined the dialogue, the NBA is beginning to show indications of change.

Royce White: Political Career 

Following the murder of George Floyd, White spearheaded multiple protests. Royce led a nonviolent demonstration in late May that drew hundreds of people down Interstate 35.

He also walked from 38th St. and Chicago Ave., the site of Floyd’s killing, to the White House beginning September 11, through battleground states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

During the demonstrations, the player also pushed for economic involvement in the Black community.

Free The Uyghurs

After Covid-19 lockdowns suspended its season in 2020, The BIG 3 resumed playing in 2021. During the first week of the season, Royce attended a game wearing a t-shirt that read “Free The Uyghurs.”

Following a game-winning basket, Royce appeared on CBS with John Sally for a post-game interview, during which he asked for the release of 2 million Uyghurs from concentration camps.

Commentators compared his words to the NBA’s support for the Chinese government.

As the season progressed, Royce went on to address more controversial themes such as Gain of Function Research, The Federal Reserve, Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Muammar Gaddafi, The Great Reset, Larry Hoover, Jeff Fort, Ivermectin, Me Too, and so on. 

Running for Congress

Moreover, on February 22, 2022, White declared his intention to run as a Republican for the United States House of Representatives in Minnesota against Ilhan Omar.

The former player wrote:

“Today I’m officially announcing that I will be running for Congress in MN-CD5 against Ilhan Omar. It’s time to clean the house. God Bless America! The Fight Continues… #Godspeed”

Royce White: Charges

In the October 13, 2009, incident at the Mall of America, Royce pleaded guilty to theft and disorderly conduct.

The player 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. However, he claimed the security officer was charging at him and he was defending himself.

Likewise, in November, Royce was also a suspect in a laptop theft from a university dorm. However, after three months of inquiry, the University of Minnesota police department did not have enough evidence to prosecute him for theft.

In January, he was formally charged with trespassing. Following that, in February 2010, Royce departed from the University of Minnesota.

Body Measurements

The player is athletic and powerful, weighing around 118 kg. Likewise, the athlete is 6 feet 8 inches tall.

Royce’s arms are covered with tattoos. Royce White was born in the year 1991, Therefore, he is 32 years old. Likewise, his zodiac is Aries.

Royce White: Facts and Trivia

Royce is also an author. Through his sub-stack, he has released four books and eight open letters. He has written for various publications, including Sports Illustrated and The Cauldron.

Likewise, the player has been on several episodes, including War Room Pandemic with Steve Bannon and Fearless with Jason Whitlock.

White has also received great acclaim from Steven Bannon, who frequently refers to him as a populist thought leader.

Bannon has been described as a friend, mentor, and American hero by White, considering him to be the fundamental motivation for getting engaged in politics.

Moreover, Royce White’s website describes him as a ready and skilled leader whose voice will effectively represent CD5 in Congress.

Royce White: Net Worth

Throughout his career, the NBA player earned a total of $4,015,976. He also made some extra money through various sponsorship arrangements.

The player’s net worth is reported to be about $1 million. As a result, we can say that the player has enough money to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle and run a campaign for the congress. 

Social Media

FAQs

Is Royce White married?

White’s current marital status is unknown. However, the player has a son with Angelic Aguilar. 

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