By Mark Haynes | Special To The OBSERVER
Dreams often create the fuel for motivation. Some use that motivation to reach goals, but many keep that mythical feeling inside their heads.
Then there are people like South Korean basketball legend Aaron Haynes, who never fully imagined accomplishing what they have.
Who is Aaron Haynes?
Haynes is Sacramento City College’s leading career scorer. He finished his college career at Boise State University, then landed in Korea, where the Sacramento resident became the leading American career scorer. And it all started with a dream.
“I never knew I would make it this far, but my goal as a kid was to make it to the NBA,” Haynes told The OBSERVER. “I didn’t know much about overseas basketball.”
Life began for Haynes on the west side of Fresno, a part of his hometown similar to Sacramento’s Oak Park. Gangs and drugs surrounded Haynes from a young age. Many peers never reached their potential, but Haynes was determined to make something of himself.
“I would say I had a great childhood,” Haynes told The OBSERVER. “But I definitely saw some things I shouldn’t have seen. At the time, I thought it was normal. Now, having my own son, nothing about it was normal.”
After graduating from Fresno High School, Haynes headed to Sac City. He didn’t know then, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life.
“I knew as a kid I wanted out of Fresno,” Haynes shared. “Me and a friend came out here [Sacramento] to visit a mutual friend. We spoke with the coach, played with the team that weekend and decided to come out here for school.”
Sacramento instantly became home for Haynes and he has lived here for more than 20 years. Now retired from basketball, he still has relationships with many college friends and teammates who’ve been a part of his journey and have witnessed Haynes do some incredible things. Steve Jordan, owner of Barberz Dreme Co. in Elk Grove, is one of those friends.
“We moved up from Fresno together,” Jordan told The OBSERVER. “We came up here with the ‘can’t fail’ mindset. Neither of us had ever been too far from home, so we were living in survival mode. Aaron was hungry from the beginning.”
At Sac City, Haynes averaged 17.8 points and 9.0 rebounds as a freshman. He followed by averaging 20.4 points as a sophomore on his way to establishing the school’s career scoring record with 1,188 points.
“When he actually broke the record, I think it was more of an ‘I’m here’ moment,” Jordan said. “Because we had already been here and been acclimated, and we had friends on the team. But Aaron has always been about a bucket.”
Becoming the Panthers’ career scoring leader was a satisfying milestone for Haynes. It was validation and set the stage for him to keep chasing his dream of playing professionally.
“I knew the hard work I put in to achieve that record and especially where I come from,” Haynes said. “I wasn’t supposed to make it out.”
He committed to Boise State, where he averaged 14.7 points on 47.4% shooting in two seasons for the Broncos. He fell short of being drafted into the NBA, but overseas basketball became the landing spot for Haynes.
The 6-foot-8 forward played in several countries early in his career overseas, but in 2011 that changed. He signed a contract with the Korean Basketball League, where he would make history again. After playing just over a decade in the KBL, he became one of the most decorated players in league history. Haynes who won multiple KBL MVP awards and championships. He also became the American career leading scorer with 10,780 points.
“That was a huge accomplishment for me,” Haynes said. “Normally, players don’t stay in the same country long enough to break the record, so that was a big thing for me.”
Father Time began knocking a few years later. Haynes, then 37, suffered a devastating ACL injury.
“It was my first major injury, which was very tough,” Haynes shared. “But the toughest part was the mental. The only question I ask myself [was], will I ever get back to the level I was used to playing?
“And I did.”
After a decade of dominance in South Korea, his on-court production started to diminish. Haynes remained productive, but he wasn’t the same player. It forced Haynes to think about life after basketball, and that’s how he found another passion: buying and selling mobile homes.
“It was 2020, and I was on the fence about retiring or playing one more year,” Haynes said. “I was watching the [‘Earn Your Living’] business podcast and they had a Black couple on there, and I watched it, and it piqued my interest. I researched it until my season ended. Once I got home, I put my plan into action.”
Basketball is still Haynes’ first love, but nowadays you will likely see him on social media hosting live interviews about business. You can follow him on Instagram @hebuysmobilehomes. If you are interested in investing in mobile homes, you can schedule a consultation with Haynes at aaronhaynes.as.me/schedule.