Rockets rookie Royce White refuses to report to D-League assignment

Rockets rookie Royce White says he won't report to team's D-League squad. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets rookie forward Royce White refused to report to his NBA Development League assignment on Sunday, releasing a statement accusing the team of creating an "unsafe" atmosphere of team officials that make mental health calls.

On Saturday, White was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets D-League team, so he begin a process of getting on the court. White has not played this season after being selected with the 16th overall pick in the 1st round of the 2012 Draft. White has been dealing with well-documented anxiety issues.

Part of the White's statement reads: 

However, it saddens and frightens me to know that in this situation all the decision makers involved have been informed of all the medical dynamics, and yet still refuse to adhere to medical sensibility. In hindsight of the recent tragedies in this country, that had mental illness variables, you would think it would encourage people to act more proactively in that arena. You would think that decision makers who are not well informed about mental health, would take the consultation and recommendation of those who are. You would think we would start to do everything possible to not let the tragic consequences befall us first, before we ask the logical question, "why?", "who knew?" "how could we have helped?. Why not take a proactive approach of "who knows?" "how can we listen?", "how can we support now?" I do wish to play, but I only intend to do so with the collaboration and recommendation of trained professionals. The purpose of a doctor's confirmation is to ensure that health decisions are made in the sole interest of health and not conflicted with business. My only hope is that decision makers involved realize that doctors are the only logical source to decide action.