Former NBA player Royce White wins GOP Minnesota Senate primary despite long history of controversial remarks

Former NBA player Royce White has picked up his biggest win in politics so far. White defeated Joe Fraser on Tuesday to win the Minnesota Senate primary election and snag the Republican nomination. He will now face incumbent Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar in the November voting period.

White, who played for the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings in the NBA, has been described as an aggressive figure who often spews controversial remarks toward various societal communities.

White has reportedly made comments about women, Jewish and LGBTQ communities. His remarks have made him a popular far-right candidate after also securing Minnesota’s Republican popularity.

Last year, the 33-year-old former NBA player said that “women have become too mouthy” on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” show. Bannon is a felon and a former Donald Trump adviser, whom White has since called “an American hero.”

“As the Black man in the room, I’ll say that,” White added as part of his statements.

White also made comments about the LGBTQ+ movement and what he thinks about the people who are part of the community.

“The LGBTQ movement is the brainchild of radical feminists and their cucked men.... At least from a political standpoint. The sad part is they're actually preying on people with mental health issues and subjecting women to a sacrificial role... Sadistic to say the least,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Adding to the controversies he has faced, White fought back from antisemitic accusations from news outlets.

“You can’t be antisemitic when you pray to a Jewish carpenter every morning for salvation. Jesus Is King!” White said.

Royce White ended his athletic career overseas, playing for the Canadian professional team, the London Lightning, in 2018. From there, White carved a name for himself in the political arena.

Looking back at Royce White’s NBA career

Royce White was a highly-touted player coming into the NBA. He first played for the University of Minnesota and was later accused of stealing and a fifth-degree assault before transferring to Iowa University, where he mainly made impressions for NBA teams.

White was picked 16th overall by the Houston Rockets, which preluded a tumultuous stint with the team that included his mental health issues and his fears of flying.

He was then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014 before signing a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings, which eventually relegated him to the NBA D-League. After a couple of 10-day contracts, White was never signed again by an NBA team.

White played just three games in the NBA and logged in a total of nine minutes. He also only had one field goal attempt and two personal fouls committed, according to Basketball Reference.

In the D-League, now known as the G League, Royce White played 20 games and averaged 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.