Lee Dong-jun (basketball)

Lee Dong-jun (born Daniel Sandrin on 27 January 1980), is an American-born South Korean basketball player.[1]

For the South Korean footballer, see Lee Dong-jun (footballer).

Lee Dong-jun
Personal information
Born (1980-01-27) 27 January 1980
NationalitySouth Korean
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Career information
College University Of Portland (1999-2000)Seattle Pacific (2000-2002)
PositionForward
Career history
2007–2012Daegu Orions
2012–2015Seoul Samsung Thunders
2015–2016Seoul SK Knights
2016Alab Pilipinas
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  South Korea
FIBA Asia Championship
2007 Japan Team
Lee Dong-jun
Hangul
이동준
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Dongjun
McCune–ReischauerRi Tongjun
In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

Career

Lee began his basketball career playing for the University of Portland in the 1998–1999 season, appearing in eight games and scoring an average of 1 points. He transferred to Seattle Pacific University in 2000.[2] After his graduation, he went on to play on professional teams in Luxembourg and Germany before coming to South Korea in 2006.[1]

In South Korea, Lee joined Yonsei University's team in March 2006.[1] Lee's participation in university basketball was controversial because he was not a South Korean citizen and he had previously played in professional leagues in Europe. Even after he naturalised, Korea University continued to object to his participation due to his professional experience; after he was ruled ineligible, a physical altercation broke out at a September 2006 match between Yonsei University and Korea University.[1] Coming to South Korea was a difficult adjustment for Lee in terms of culture and language.[3] Philippine Olympic Committee president Monico Puentevella stated in media interviews that Sandrin had told him "he couldn’t relate with the Koreans because they hardly speak English … he felt more comfortable with our team.[4] Nevertheless, Lee stated that he relished the opportunity to live in the country and learn more about his roots.[3]

Lee would go on to play professionally in the Korean Basketball League for the Daegu Orions.[3] He later moved to the Seoul Samsung Thunders. In January 2013 he and elder brother Lee Seung-jun were booked on assault charges in Mapo District, leading to controversy over whether they should be permitted to play in the then-ongoing KBL All-Star Games.[5]

On 21 November 2016, it was announced that Lee would serve as one of two Alab Pilipinas' world imports together with his brother Lee Seung-jun.[6]

Personal life

Lee was born into a basketball family: his father was an avid player, and taught the game to Lee's older brother and then to Lee himself.[3] He graduated from Bothell High School in 1998 before going on to the University of Portland and then Seattle Pacific University.[2] He naturalised as a South Korean citizen in June 2006, relinquishing his United States citizenship in the process.[1][7] His elder brother Eric Sandrin followed him to South Korea and in 2009 also naturalised as a South Korean citizen, changing his name to Lee Seung-jun.[8]

References
  1. "Korea's Next Hoops Star in Making". The Dong-A Ilbo. 6 January 2007. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  2. "Daniel Sandrin Transfers from Portland, Joining Brother". Seattle Pacific University Athletics. 23 May 2000. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  3. "The First Naturalized Half-Korean Brothers in KBL". Arirang News. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  4. Henson, Joaquin (6 August 2007). "Summit to Tackle Basketball Issues". NewsFlash. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  5. "이승준-이동준, 폭행 혐의 입건에도 올스타전 출전 논란 (Lee Seung-jun, Lee Dong-jun booking on assault charges causes All-Star Games controversy)". Korea Economic Daily. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  6. http://aseanbasketballleague.com/news/team-preview-alab-pilipinas/
  7. "연세대 귀화 선수 이동준 '농구하고 싶어 美시민권 포기' (Yonsei University naturalised athlete Lee Dong-jun: 'I wanted to play basketball so I gave up U.S. citizenship')". Chosun Ilbo. 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  8. Yoo, Jee-ho (12 November 2010). "Half-Korean player on S. Korean basketball team realising dream at Asiad". Yonhap. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
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