With the Sacramento Kings trailing the San Antonio Spurs 98-79 on Friday night, Royce White took the floor for the first time as an NBA player.
Yes, 631 days after being selected 16th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, White finally stepped on an NBA floor. While the Kings didn't call his name until there were just 56 seconds left, it still represents the culmination of a long journey to the league for White.
After being drafted, White spent the 2012-13 season arguing with the Rockets over how best to manage his generalized anxiety disorder within the context of NBA life. While he saw some run in the D-League, he was largely persona non grata. An offseason trade to Philadelphia then saw him waived just before the start of the season.
But Sacramento rolled the dice with a 10-day contract, liked what they saw and heard from a conditioning stint in the D-League, and gave him a shot.
He didn't touch the ball, but that's hardly the point. Royce White played in an NBA game, the first step in what is hopefully the official beginning of a successful career.
Also worth noting: his hair game is NBA ready.
@Highway_30 congrats Royce! This was a very moving moment! pic.twitter.com/FE8l0gploQ
— Baye McNeil (@Locohama) March 22, 2014
