Ex-NBA First Rounder Royce White Planning Transition to Mixed Martial Arts

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Challenging the status quo is one thing. Changing it takes something different entirely. #UFC #LEAD —— I am now in pursuit of the UFC Heavyweight title. My second book “MMA x NBA” is available on Amazon. The book details the thought process of this transition and much more. ALL PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH. —— Photo: @roy.son

A post shared by Royce White (@last.renaissance.man) on Feb 27, 2019 at 9:29am PST

Royce White, a former first-round pick of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, is planning to see how his athletic talents translate to the mixed martial arts cage.

The 6-foot-8, 260-pound former power forward is aiming high, setting his sights on the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s heavyweight crown.

"I'm one of the best athletes in the world," White told ESPN. "Among the NBA community, part of my appeal as a draft prospect was my unique size, athleticism, vision and that I probably have one of the 10 biggest set of hands in the NBA. I think all of those things will translate beautifully to the UFC.”

White released a book on Wednesday entitled “MMA x NBA: A Critique of Modern Sport in America,” which will detail his thought process in changing sports. White, who will be 28 in April, says he has been training for “six or seven months.” He has been working at Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts Academy, a gym where Brock Lesnar and Sean Sherk have trained in the past.

"I've always been a fan of the fight game since I was young," said White, who suffers from an anxiety disorder. "I played point guard as a 265-pounder in the NCAA. In order to do so, not only do you have to have great court vision, you have to have great tempo and great footwork.

"Those things naturally translate to the fight game. I'm excited about it, but more so than anything, I'm excited about learning this thing that I've loved from the sidelines for so long, and applying it.”

White was an All-American at Iowa State University in 2011-12 before being drafted by Houston with the 16th overall pick in the NBA draft. White’s NBA career ultimately consisted of three games with the Sacramento Kings in the 2013-14 season before he was released. He has since played basketball overseas and in the NBA Summer League.