His father, Darryl White, played Australian rules football for the Brisbane Bears/Lions, where he won three AFL premierships.

McDowell-White grew up playing Australian rules football for Coorparoo and was placed in the Brisbane Lions talent academy at the age of 13.

[4] In December 2016, McDowell-White joined the Sydney Kings of Australia's NBL as a development player for the rest of the 2016–17 season.

[5] McDowell-White signed a four-year deal with Brose Bamberg, of the Basketball Bundesliga, which is Germany's top division, in July 2017.

On 27 September, McDowell-White was waived by the Rockets to make room on their training camp roster for Ryan Anderson.

[9][10] McDowell-White was then added to the roster of the Rockets' NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

[14] After another quick stint with the Rockets in December 2020,[15] he played for the Vipers in the G League hub season between February and March 2021.

[26] On May 15, 2024, McDowell-White signed a two-year deal with Alba Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).