Ethan Chung did not plan on playing basketball professionally after graduating from Pacific in the spring of 2023.
 
"I was pretty set on being done with basketball after my senior year at Pacific," said Chung, a marketing major. "I was interviewing for jobs and close to getting a sales job back at home."
 
But when an agent from Taiwan reached out, Chung thought he might as well give the opportunity a chance.
 
Ethan's dad, Byron, was born in Taiwan before immigrating to the United States as a child. But Ethan had never even visited Taiwan.  
 
"I did not know much about Taiwan at all," Chung said. "I did grow up speaking Mandarin, but after a few years I stopped so my Mandarin is not very good. 
 
"The language barrier was pretty tough. I can't read Mandarin. Pretty much the only person that I would speak with is my grandma. There was not much other use for it. I did not expect to be in Taiwan for that long." 
 
Chung spent six months in Taiwan training and trying out for teams. 
 
"I was close to signing with a team but had issues with an agent and couldn't sign with the team that wanted me," Chung said. I was ready to hang it up, but had a long conversation with my dad. He kept telling me this opportunity only comes once. I decided to give it one more run and I'm really glad with my decision." 
 
After returning home to San Ramon, California for two months, Chung joined the Taiwan Mustangs at the beginning of April to play in a newly formed league called The Asian Tournament.


 
Each team includes three players from anywhere in the world, three from Asia and three locals. 
 
At 23 years old, Chung is the youngest player on the team.
 
After finishing 3-2 in the first leg, the Mustangs went 4-1 in the second.
 
On May 24, Chung had the game of his life, scoring 40 points and five assists, included 11 3-pointers in a blowout victory over the Aces.
 
"The more we got to practice together and the more time we spent together, the more comfortable we got," Chung said of the Mustangs. "We're definitely making positive progression."

The Mustangs are adding reinforcements in three former NBA Players – Dwight Howard, an eight-time NBA All-Star and part owner of the team, DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook.
 
Howard and Cook were part of the 2019-2020 Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship team. 
 
"It's surreal," Chung said. "In a little bit over a year going from I don't know if I want to play professional basketball to me playing with three former Lakers… I'm from southern California, so I'm a Lakers fan. Playing with NBA guys, it's something I would have never ever imagined and it's just been a roller coaster of a journey." 
 
Chung added that none of his success in Taiwan would be possible without Pacific University and head men's basketball coach Justin Lunt.
 
"I text coach Lunt a good amount about my experience and I always thank coach Lunt because I definitely wouldn't be here without him and the effort that he's put into me," Chung said. "Without Pacific, I wouldn't be here. A lot of credit to coach Lunt and Pacific basketball." 

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