Now in his fifth season with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, swingman David Lighty has found a second home in Lyon and could even see himself playing the rest of his career there.
David Lighty, ASVEL: 'Lyon's the perfect city for me'
Interviews
5 mins read
Year after year, it becomes more and more rare to find players who are attached to a team or a city at a level that it almost becomes a second home. However, a case could be made for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne's David Lighty, who is in his second stint and fifth season overall with the team.
When Lighty left his native United States to pursue a professional career in basketball, he landed in Italy first. He spent the 2011-12 season between Cantu, with which he made his EuroLeague debut, and Cremona. In late 2012, he played in France for the first time with Nanterre back in the EuroLeague and remained there until 2014. In the summer of that year, he got a call from ASVEL president, Tony Parker.
"From the first time here, we had a great two years and we ended up winning a championship," Lighty recalled.
"Lyon has a bit of everything. Beautiful places to go eat, beautiful scenery, the ruins..."
After that, Lighty moved back to Italy and spent the 2016-17 season between Trento and Sassari. And when that season ended, a new dilemma was laid in front of him.
"When I finished playing in Sassari I had, in fact, the chance to stay in Italy. The choice was between Venice and ASVEL," Lighty said. "Talking to Tony and the team, the vision that he had to get into the EuroLeague, I wanted to be part of that. I think that probably was one of the main reasons I came back and then also the city, of course. I was comfortable with it, I knew the ins and outs of it."
Lyon is the third-largest city in France after Paris and Marseille. With a population well over half a million inhabitants and located in the confluence of the rivers Rhone and Saone, Lyon is a city growing like its basketball team.
"For sure, you see a lot of construction going on. You probably hate it at the time, but where there's constructions it means there's growth. So, I think that for the city it is something that shows all aspects of growing," Lighty said. "Honestly, I would say it reminds me of home in the States a little bit. I'm a mid-west guy from Cleveland, you know, not too big, not too small... and I think Lyon gives me that kind of aspect, it's the perfect city for me."
In his fifth year in the city, Lighty has made Lyon his home away from home, and he likes to talk about the good things it has to offer.
"Actually, Lyon has a bit of everything. Beautiful places to go eat, beautiful scenery, the ruins... They have the cathedral up in Lyon that overlooks the whole city, Part-Dieu which is kind of the modern area with the big skyscrapers and malls and everything... A little bit of all types of different cultures, so I think that's why it attracts me so much." Lighty explained.
"The Bellecour area is probably the best bet to go, with so many different options: from pubs to food, to scenery, old cathedrals and museums and shopping as well. Probably go to Confluence as well, shopping with a big mall and movie theater. It's different options, it depends on what you like to do or what you want to do in the city."
"I can see my basketball career ending here."
Lighty does not forget to talk about food since Lyon is considered the cuisine capital of one of the highest regarded countries in the world when it comes to food.
"Rest in peace Paul Bocuse, one of the best cuisine people ever to live, his restaurants always have something special if you want to try something different," Lighty advised.
In their return to the EuroLeague, ASVEL and Lighty are making a splash and have turned Lyon and its Astroballe one of the hottest and most difficult places to visit in the league. The attachment of Lighty to the club and the city are unquestionable, to the point where he wouldn't mind finishing his career there.
"I can see my basketball career ending here, for sure," Lighty said. "I came back and this is my fifth year here, so I would be lying if I said I wasn't comfortable in Lyon. For me, it's year by year to see how things go. Talking to your family, talking to the team, what their goals and vision are and if it aligns with you and it works out well, you go with your heart."