By Joe Nguyen, Denver Post
David Arnold always wanted to explore his Vietnamese heritage. He is now getting a chance to do so through basketball.
Saigon Heat guard David Arnold works with elementary-school students in Saigon, Vietnam. The 22-year-old shooting guard, who is of Vietnamese descent, is preparing for his first professional season in Vietnam. (Provided by the Saigon Heat basketball team)
“The fans are crazy excited,” he said. “It feels good that they’ve accepted me.”
Arnold, getting ready for his first professional season, has seemingly become the “face” of the Saigon Heat, Vietnam’s first-ever international professional basketball team. Since moving to Saigon in January, the former ThunderRidge High School standout has played with the Heat’s “D” squad against local competition to prepare for the regular season.
“The locals are behind but play hard and learn fast,” he said. “It’s a dirty, physical game.”
Saigon is one of six teams in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL), a Southeast Asian pro circuit that tips off its fifth season July 19.
Arnold, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound shooting guard, did well enough this spring that the Heat began promoting him on its website, saigonheat.com, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. This despite the fact he “hates pictures,” has not yet played an ABL game and would prefer attention go to his teammates — who have affectionately given him a Vietnamese name, “Viet Nguyen.”
Playing and living in Vietnam is a dream come true for Arnold, 23, who completed his collegiate eligibility at Montana State a year ago.
Growing up, he had limited exposure to Vietnamese culture. His mother, Mai, emigrated from Vietnam when she was 8, and much of her side of the family still resides overseas.
“Me and my brothers always talked about going to Vietnam and playing for the Olympic team,” he said. “I’ve always been curious.”
Read the full article by Joe Nguyen from Denver Post.
