Interview with Daniel Sandrin

The 2012-13 KBL season has already begun and Daniel has experienced change with this new season. After spending his entire KBL career with the Goyang Orions (고양 오리온스), whom drafted him second overall in the 2007 KBL Draft, he became a free agent prior to this season and is now a member of the Seoul Samsung Thunders (서울 삼성 썬더스).

Since coming to Korea, Daniel has gained Korean citizenship and represented Korea as a part of the Korean National Basketball team at both the 2007 and 2009 FIBA Asia Championships.

Along with his many personal accomplishments, Daniel also has the pleasure of having a fellow family member in the KBL. His older brother Eric (이승준) also plays in the league and is currently with the Wonju Dongbu Promy (원주 동부 프로미). In fact, Daniel’s new team (the Seoul Samsung Thunders) is where Eric had spent his previous three seasons.

We were able to cover Daniel’s background and basketball career and are pleased to present this interview with him.

Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.

Background: The Basics on Daniel

Where were you born, raised, currently reside?
Born and raised in Bothell, a suburb of Seattle, Washington and currently reside in Yongin City, a suburb of Seoul, Korea.

How did your parents meet?
My father was in the military back in the ‘70’s and met my mom at a restaurant where she worked in Seoul.

Do you have any siblings?
I have an older brother named Eric (이승준).

Are you fluent in Korean?
I grew up not speaking Korean but picked it up, and am pretty fluent but speak with an American accent.

What is your favorite Korean food?
I love pretty much all Korean food in Korea. Can’t really stomach the “Korean” food in America anymore… hahaha

Did you grow up around other mixed Koreans?
Our parents were friends with a lot of similar interracial couples so we played with their kids quite a bit. However, all of our real friends growing up were neither mixed nor Korean.

Did you ever experience any identity issues while growing up?
Not really. We grew up in a white neighborhood, and everybody pretty much accepted us. Never really felt different until I moved to Korea.

Before beginning your basketball career in Korea (Yonsei & KBL), how often did you visit Korea?
I went two or three times before with my parents, but never really had a compelling reason to go to Korea until I started playing ball out here.

What do people who meet/see you think your ethnicity is?
In Korea, it’s all across the board. The average person in the streets treats me like a white
foreigner. People who know me, either treat me as a Korean or as a mixed guy who is foreign. In America, I could be anything from Mexican to Native American. Around the world, I can pretty much blend in anywhere… hahaha

Career: Basketball & KBL

How long have you been playing basketball?
I’ve been bouncing a ball since I was old enough to walk, but I started officially when I was five playing in the local rec league.

Were you into any other sports while growing up?
I played virtually every sport. Soccer, baseball, basketball, football, etc.

Outside of the your brother Eric and the other “ethnic” KBL draft picks, have you met any other half/mixed Korean basketball players in college or pro leagues?
There was a guy Mike Leasure who played for Gonzaga, and they said he was half-Korean and from the Seattle area. This last summer, I ran into a guy named David at Impact basketball in Vegas. I think he’s playing overseas somewhere this year, but plans to make the move to Korea soon.

Your path into the KBL was different than most of the other mixed Koreans as you were selected second overall in the 2007 KBL draft. You were allowed to enter the “standard” draft after spending one year at Yonsei University. Can you take us through that process and what it was like?
Well, it was all pretty cloak and dagger stuff in the beginning with nobody really knowing the process or how it would shake down in the end. Yonsei wanted me to help them win. In return, they said they would help me with my paperwork, so that I could go on to play in the KBL and perhaps national team. So, I was working with an agent at the time and they set up a tryout at a tournament in Hawaii. I was ready; I crushed the tryout; they took me immediately to Korea. In my mind, I would play some games and then immediately go out in the January draft. What actually happened was we got back to Korea. I was ineligible to play. I couldn’t speak to anyone. I was broke. I watched Yonsei lose to Korea U. in the year-end tourney, and then everyone went on vacation. I sat alone for two months in the dormitories, and then they began looking into my eligibility when they came back. I couldn’t play for about a year. In the meantime, I got a crash course in Korean culture, started learning the language, and eventually got fed up and left. I was a nomad that summer, I was sleeping on all my friends’ couches, teaching English on the side, and looking into applying to law school, when Yonsei contacted me and brought me back to play in the rival game vs. Korea U. Korea U. boycotted the game if I played, so I sat back and watched Yonsei lose. Eventually, they decided to send me pro, and here I am. But that was by far the most difficult year of my life.

Did you get your Korean citizenship during the draft process time or was that later on?
I passed the citizenship test in June of ’06, but didn’t know if it was worth giving up U.S.
citizenship for something that was so risky. Eventually, I just said, “Fuck it,” and rolled the dice. I felt confident in my basketball skills, and when you bet on yourself, it’s never really a bad bet.

You were a part of the Korean National basketball team from 2007-2009. What was that experience like? Would you play for the team again if you were given the opportunity?
Playing for the national team was like a dream. Growing up, you play against other schools. In the pros, you play against other clubs. On the national team, we play against other countries. It was an enormous honor. It filled me with pride, and I would do it again in a heartbeat if the opportunity presents itself.

What do you think of the FIBA rules that only allow one naturalized player to play for a team (e.g. when only one of the mixed Korean players are allowed on the team)? With current FIBA rules, it wouldn’t be possible for you and your brother to be on the team, right?
The rules are always subject to review and can be changed, but I think the current state of affairs is far from fair. I mean, in the past they allowed dual citizens but not naturalized players that gave up their former nationality. That makes no sense whatsoever. For instance, in my case I gave up everything to play and am not even eligible to play for another national team. If I’m unable to play for the Korean team, then I can’t play at all. Julian (김민수 / Julian Fernandez) and me played together for that reason, but there are also many countries that will try to boost their competitiveness through shady measures. Anyways, it is what it is, but it’d be great to play with my brother representing Korea.

What were your thoughts/opinions on the KBL “Ethnic” draft that began in 2009? Were you for/against or indifferent?
Well, I’m happy that these guys got the opportunity to play in Korea. It’s great to have them here, and I think it raises the level in our league. The rules are not perfect, and I think it creates some interesting scenarios regarding racial categorizing. But all in all, I think it’s worked out great for all parties involved.

What has your experience been like to play professionally in the Korean Basketball League? Was it something you had planned to do and had the KBL reached out to you about playing in the league?
I had heard about the Korean pro league for guys on our Korean Olympic basketball team from Seattle. I had never really considered it seriously because of the citizenship issue as well as the military issue. My brother was on the radar while he was with the Harlem Globetrotters and doing NBA tryouts. He passed my number onto the scouts while I was working at a bank.

When you first joined the league, how was the reception from your teammates, coaches, opposing players, fans, etc? Has the reception/acceptance changed at all since you joined the KBL?
I think a lot of people felt threatened. I basically took a good job from someone who was born and raised in Korea. No one saw me as a “real” Korean. They wanted me to follow all the cultural rules, but no one welcomed me as a teammate. When you play sports in Korea, you are with your team literally 24 hours a day. We all live in the same housing and practice usually 3-4 times/day together, not to mention eating every meal together. I was very lonely living in this environment and couldn’t wait for days off to get out and meet my friends. I think the coaches saw my ability, and wanted to tap into it, but didn’t really look at me the same way they looked at the other players.

Were your parents and family supportive of your decision to play in the KBL?
No one was very happy about me coming to Korea at first. I had a good job, and didn’t need basketball to survive. When you add giving up U.S. citizenship, it was a pretty hard sell.

What has it been like to play basketball professionally in Korea with your brother Eric?
Playing out here with Eric has been a great experience. Eric and I have always been best
friends. It’s really been a blessing as Korea is a pressure cooker where only the strong survive. I remember thinking back in America, “Korean basketball? Piece of cake.” I couldn’t have been farther from the truth. It’s not so much about your skills out here as it is about your ability to cope with hardship and stress.

When you first joined the KBL, do you know if there were there any other mixed Koreans in the league at that time?
There were none. At the time, Julian was in college. Interestingly enough though, my new coach this year is of mixed decent (김동광 / Kim Dong-Kwang).

In your basketball career, who would you consider to have been your best teammate?
In my career, my brother has always been my best teammate. But, if I had to limit it to the KBL, it would be tough as I have been around some phenomenal players. I would probably have to say Kim Seung-Hyun (김승현). He’s been like a mentor to me on and off the court, and really helped me survive out here.

What was it like to play in the KBL in comparison with other pro leagues that you have played in since?
The KBL is very well organized and professional. The games are televised, the facilities are
pretty legit, and they take care of the players. On the other hand, once you sign your contract, you are basically their property and you lose a lot of personal freedom that players elsewhere have. You cannot leave and go home after practice normally; the rules are pretty strict and inflexible. On the other hand, they compensate you handsomely for your sacrifice.

Since the basketball court is known for its trash talking, etc. (from not only the players but fans, etc.), has your ethnicity ever been brought up on the court (or off)?
Yeah, it’s always going to be and issue. We immigrated to this country, and they are going to view me in whatever way they choose. For the most part, the society in Korea has welcomed us with open arms. Basketball is different in that it’s a competitive environment, and people will always view “outsiders” with more scrutiny than local players. I’ve always tried to kill ‘em with kindness and not give people a reason to hate me, but that’s not always enough. I just hope that I can open up people’s minds a little and show them that we’re not so bad after all.

Since joining the KBL, what are some goals that you have set for yourself and have you accomplished any of them (e.g. such as winning the KBL championship, etc.)?
Competitively, my goal is to win a championship. Personally, my goal is to play on the same
team as my brother.

You are now on the Thunders, what expectations do you have with your new team and the 2012 season? Is it strange to be on a new team, which also happens to be your brother’s former team? Why did you leave the Orions?
My contract was up with the Orions, and I found a good situation here with Samsung. I’m very happy, and Eric was instrumental in setting this up. It is strange to be on a new team, but I’m adapting fine, I think. Our goal for the season is making the playoffs. This team was in last place last year, but we’ve made a lot of personnel changes, and I think it’s doable.

Do you plan to stay with the KBL the rest of your playing career? Any post-playing career plans? Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I signed a 3-year deal with Samsung, so this is year one. After this contract, I will have to do some soul-searching and see what opportunities present themselves. Korean basketball takes a huge toll on your body, and I will be 35 at the end of my contract. I’ve thought a lot about coaching or starting a business, but we’ll just have to see where my body is in three years.

Random

What’s your current relationship status? Have you ever had any ethnic dating preferences?
I’m currently single, and I don’t have any ethnic dating preferences.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I love to travel, and learn languages. I’m working on Spanish right now, and I’m trying to pick up golf.

Anybody in particular that you respect/look up to?
As a child, I think you look up to a lot of people, such as your parents and sports figures. I
definitely respect my brother more than anybody else in this world, but now as an adult, I just try to be the best person I can be. I don’t really think there’s a mold for that.

Do you like soju?
I don’t “like” soju, but I seem to end up drinking it a lot… hahaha

How did you find out about HalfKorean.com and what did you think about HalfKorean.com when you first saw it?
I ran into a rapper named Carlos (Carlos Galvan) out here when I first came to Korea. I saw HalfKorean.com on his Facebook page a few times. Other than that, I think it’s great. I always wished to meet more kids like me growing up, but it never seemed to work out.

Any words that you would like to pass on to the mixed Korean community?
I could be the only one but growing up, I always felt a part of me missing. My Korean relatives lived with us, and Korean was spoken all around me as I grew up, but I could never understand it. I never really understood what made my Korean mother tick. Now that I live in Korea, speak Korean, and have worked in Korea for the last 8 years, I get it. I know it’s not possible for everyone, but I strongly recommend learning the language and perhaps spending some time in the country. It just might fill in some gaps.

We want to thank Daniel for spending some time with us for this interview even though the KBL season is in full swing already. We would like to also thank our friend Janice Paik for helping connect us with Daniel.

You can connect with Daniel on his Twitter or Cyworld (싸이월드) and follow his season through the Samsung Thunders official website

Interview by: David Lee Sanders

Posted: 11/16/2012

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