A Republican senate candidate in Minnesota has taken a meandering path from sport into politics, where he has earned support from the far-right fringes.
Now he faces a difficult battle to enter Congress.
Royce White, a former standout basketball player, won the GOP primary on Tuesday, capturing 38.5% of the vote in a crowded eight-candidate field.
He was seen as an underdog before he won the endorsement of the state party delegates in May. But his fringe views and tough competition in the form of incumbent Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar mean that he is a longshot to win the general election.
From the court to politics
Mr White, a Minnesota native, was a star high school player on two state championship teams before taking the court at Iowa State University.
He was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2012 even though his severe fear of flying hampered his ability to travel.
Ultimately he saw little action in the league, playing in just three games, and later tried his hand at mixed martial arts and Big3, the 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by rapper Ice Cube.
Meanwhile, his openness about his struggles with mental health issues,