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He would have been a top 5 draft pick if he didn't have the issue.
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Kid has Lebron-esque passing ability.
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White is an elite talent but slipped in the draft because of questions about his anxiety disorder, including a fear of flying. If he can keep his head together and get on planes he'll be a very unique player, one with a bruising physique but the ballhandling and passing skills of a guard. It's not clear whether he's a 3 or a 4, though at 261 pounds I'd say he's much more likely to be a 4 long-term. He'll be a bit undersized at that spot, but may make up for it with muscle.
Offensively, meanwhile, he'll have to upgrade his perimeter game or opponents will just lay off and sit on his drives. And it's not clear how that game fits when he's on the weak side -- he really needs the ball in his hands. Nonetheless, he could be a more scoring-minded, chiseled version of Boris Diaw, and that's a scary thought.
quote:Basically, only draw backs are the off the court stuff and his jump shot.
Physical, athletic forward
Point forward type player
NBA body, strong
Can score inside and outside
Excellent ball handler
Great passer for someone his size
Good rebounder
Negatives
Suffers from anxiety disorder
Has a serious fear of flying
Off the court issues
Old for his class
Inconsistent shooter
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From a purely physical standpoint, players like this just don't grow on trees. Royce White possesses a LeBron-like physique, and his skills aren't bad either.
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STRENGTHS
From an exclusively basketball standpoint, White is a great NBA prospect. His ball-handling is exceptional for his size. He often runs the floor himself after grabbing defensive rebounds, and has been described by coach Hoiberg as a “freight train” driving to the hoop. With a big, thick frame, he still keeps the ball close to his body and has an effective crossover. Scouts like his passing ability (especially out of the high post) and the many ways he can fit into an offense, being such a unique talent. He is very active in the paint, and he knows how to use his size to finish a bucket or grab a rebound.
QUESTION MARKS
White’s on-the-court weaknesses mostly have to do with his shooting and defense. Although he has a decent midrange shot, his three-pointer is inaccurate and rarely used. He struggles from the free throw line, shooting under 50% in his one season at Iowa State. Conditioning is also a question, as he has gained quite a bit of weight since high school. Weight reports vary from 250 to 280 pounds.
The most important questions NBA teams will ask White pre-draft have to do with his checkered personal life. Originally a prized recruit of Minnesota Gophers coach Tubby Smith, White left the program after accusations of laptop theft in the freshman dorms and an incident where he pushed down a security officer at the Mall of America. These events, coupled with getting kicked out of DeLaSalle High School and a recently diagnosed anxiety disorder, are major causes for concern.
Word out of Chicago’s draft combine, however, was that NBA executives were thoroughly impressed by White’s answers to their questions. He seems to have matured into an interesting and unique person while at Iowa State, as he expressed during combine interviews that he is an avid reader who also plays the piano and is influenced by John Lennon’s philosophy and music.
White’s anxiety has given him a troubling fear of flying, which is obviously problematic for a professional athlete. He has been flying all across the country for the last month, which indicates that he is at least making progress.
WHAT HE CAN BRING TO THE WOLVES
White is the most polarizing player in the draft, and has been repeatedly described as “high-risk, high-reward.” If he can manage his anxiety and prove that he has matured past his legal issues, he could be a dynamic contributor off the bench for an NBA team right away. With plenty of questions swirling around him, however, it's almost impossible to guess where he will land in the draft.
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Oh and just for reference, when Iowa State played Kentucky, Royce White was 9-12 for 23 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals while Kidd Gilchrist and Terrance Jones combined for 10 points on 4-13 shooting. So when he played against the a front court of all NBA first rounders with IOWA STATE, he basically was the best player on the court next to Anthony Davis.
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Oh and just for reference, when Iowa State played Kentucky, Royce White was 9-12 for 23 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals while Kidd Gilchrist and Terrance Jones combined for 10 points on 4-13 shooting. So when he played against the a front court of all NBA first rounders with IOWA STATE, he basically was the best player on the court next to Anthony Davis.
A disinterested Kentucky gave up some stats in one game? Well, you sold me. Elite NBA talent.
