Robert Arnold (basketball)

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.

Robert Arnold
No. 21 – Crailsheim Merlins
PositionSmall forward
LeagueBasketball Bundesliga
Personal information
Born (1988-11-12) November 12, 1988
Lancaster, California
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High schoolLancaster (Lancaster, California)
College
NBA draft2011 / Undrafted
Playing career2011–present
Career history
2011–2013Allianz Swans Gmunden
2013–2014Namika Lahti
2014–2015Kataja
2015–2016Belfius Mons-Hainaut
2016–2017Rethymno Cretan Kings
2017–2018Hyères-Toulon
2018JDA Dijon
2018–2018Crailsheim Merlins
Career highlights and awards

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
  1. "Robert Arnold". Sportsvision-Service. Retrieved 2015-01-14.
  2. "Kataja nappasi amerikkalaispelurin Lahden Namikasta". suomikoris.com (in Finnish). July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  3. "KORISLIIGA: It's finally Kataja!". Eurobasket.com. May 19, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  4. "Mons inks Reggie Arnold". Sportando.com. June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  5. "SDNA's confirmed: Robert Arnold signs with Rethymno BC". SDNA.gr. July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  6. "Hyeres-Toulon adds Arnold to their roster, ex Cretan Kings". SDNA.gr. July 22, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  7. "Robert Arnold (ex Dijon) rebondit en Allemagne" (in French). Basketeurope. December 12, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
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