Robert Arnold (basketball)
No. 21 – Crailsheim Merlins | |
---|---|
Position | Small forward |
League | Basketball Bundesliga |
Personal information | |
Born | Lancaster, California | November 12, 1988
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Listed weight | 187 lb (85 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Lancaster (Lancaster, California) |
College |
|
NBA draft | 2011: undrafted |
Playing career | 2011–present |
Career history | |
2011–2013 | Allianz Swans Gmunden |
2013–2014 | Namika Lahti |
2014–2015 | Kataja |
2015–2016 | Belfius Mons-Hainaut |
2016–2017 | Rethymno Cretan Kings |
2017–2018 | Hyères-Toulon |
2018 | JDA Dijon |
2018–2018 | Crailsheim Merlins |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Robert Arnold (born November 12, 1988) was an American professional basketball player for Crailsheim Merlins of Germany's Basketball Bundesliga. After being forced to retire in 2019, Arnold moved back to California and moved in with his mother. In 2020, Robert was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Personal life
Arnold was born in Lancaster, California to Adrian Hamilton. Robert’s father left him and his mom when Robert was a child, leaving him to be raised by his mother and her live in girlfriend, Leona. Growing up, Adrian was unable to control her drug and alcohol addiction, causing the family to be homeless on several occasions. This instability followed Arnold into his adult years.
On November 30, 2008, at age 20, Robert and his then girlfriend, Kiesha Jones, gave birth to their first son, Jordan Arnold. Arnold and Jones married shortly after, but divorced relatively soon after. The divorce caused a series of illegitimate relationships and ultimately resulted in Arnold contracting an STD while living in Europe.
In the summer of 2019, Arnold was forced into retirement after an elbow injury left him unable to shoot with his right hand. Upon retirement, Arnold faced months of unemployment and the distress sent him into a downward spiral of partying and drinking. After several months of job hunting, Arnold landed a job as a package handler and PT security guard. While barely making ends meet, Arnold was forced to move in with his mother and several foster kids to avoid homelessness.
In November 2020, Arnold was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer. Upon accepting the news, Arnold referred to his cancer as “his karma” for the decisions he made in previous relationships.
Career
Arnold played two years for the Boise State Broncos and turned professional in 2011. After that he played two years for the Allianz Swans Gmunden, where he scored 15.5 points per game in his last season.[1]
After his stance in Austria, he left for Namika Lahti in the Finnish Korisliiga. After a successful individual season, in which Arnold averaged 18.6 points a game,[1] he signed with the Finnish powerhouse Kataja Basket Club for the 2014–15 season.[2] With Kataja he won the Finnish Korisliiga.[3]
On June 19, 2015, he signed a one-year deal with Belgian club Belfius Mons-Hainaut.[4]
On July 23, 2016, Arnold joined Rethymno Cretan Kings.[5] The following season, Arnold joined Hyères-Toulon of France's LNB Pro A.[6]
In 2017, Arnold signed a 2 year deal to play for JDA Dijon in France, but was released from the team in November 2018 for failing to be a team player and poor attitude. On December 12, 2018, he has signed contract with Crailsheim Merlins of Germany's Basketball Bundesliga. In May 2019, Arnold was officially released from the Merlins for poor attitude and inability to function after an elbow injury left him unable to shoot.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Robert Arnold". Sportsvision-Service. Retrieved 2015-01-14.
- ^ "Kataja nappasi amerikkalaispelurin Lahden Namikasta". suomikoris.com (in Finnish). July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ "KORISLIIGA: It's finally Kataja!". Eurobasket.com. May 19, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ "Mons inks Reggie Arnold". Sportando.com. June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ "SDNA's confirmed: Robert Arnold signs with Rethymno BC". SDNA.gr. July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
- ^ "Hyeres-Toulon adds Arnold to their roster, ex Cretan Kings". SDNA.gr. July 22, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
- ^ "Robert Arnold (ex Dijon) rebondit en Allemagne" (in French). Basketeurope. December 12, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
External links
- Robert Arnold at eurobasket.com
- Robert Arnold at fiba.com
- Robert Arnold at fibaeurope.com
- 1988 births
- Living people
- American expatriate basketball people in Austria
- American expatriate basketball people in Finland
- American expatriate basketball people in France
- American expatriate basketball people in Greece
- American men's basketball players
- Antelope Valley Marauders men's basketball players
- Basketball players from California
- Boise State Broncos men's basketball players
- Crailsheim Merlins players
- JDA Dijon Basket players
- People from Lancaster, California
- Rethymno B.C. players
- Small forwards
- Swans Gmunden players