Rockets GM on Royce White: Arguably ‘the worst first-round pick ever’

Royce White never played a minute for the Rockets despite being a first-round selection. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)

When the Houston Rockets selected Iowa State forward Royce White with the No. 16 pick in the 2012 draft, they were aware of his issues with anxiety.

But the pick - a gamble on White's talent - didn't pay off. White never played a minute with the Rockets during the 2012-13 season.

The team shipped him to Philadelphia, and the 76ers cut him before this season started. White has said the team didn't do what they needed to do to help him through his problems.

Now Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said he doesn't think much of the pick, even though he helped bring White to Houston.

He tried to explain the thinking behind the selection when speaking to Houston season-ticket holders before a 88-87 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last Friday.

“I take some sort of pride that you could argue that Royce White is the worst first-round pick ever. He’s the only one that never played a minute in the NBA that wasn’t just a foreign guy staying in Europe. It just shows we swing for the fence,” Morey said, via Rocketsclutchfans.com

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