The 2023-24 regular season begins today, and all eyes will be on the performance of some big-name transfers. A series of transfers of national team forwards could shake up the professional basketball landscape.
One of the most talked-about transfers of the offseason was that of Choi Jun-yong. Choi, who has been with the same team since making his professional debut in a Seoul SK jersey in 2016, made a surprise move to Busan KCC after the end of last season.
KCC, which already boasts a national team lineup of Heo Woong, Jung Hyun Lee, and Ragan Ah, became a literal “super team” with the addition of Choi Jun-yong. At the recent opening media day, KCC was ranked as the No. 1 favorite to win the championship by managers from other clubs.
KCC head coach Jeon Chang-jin, who is challenging for the title, said, “Jun-yong Choi has adapted to the team very well. He is a great player who listens to the coach and raises the team’s tension. He has a strong competitive spirit, so he sometimes overacts, but he is the best player for a coach. I’m 100% satisfied,” he said, expressing his satisfaction with the ‘Choi Jun-yong effect’. KCC has already won the pre-season cup competition with Choi, setting the tone for the regular season.
After losing Choi Jun-yong to KCC, SK filled the void by signing Oh Se-geun, who helped Anyang KGC (now Chung Kwan-jang) win the integration title last year.
There is a lot of interest in how he will play for SK, as he reunites with his “Chung-Ang University classmate” and last season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kim Sun-hyung on the same team. With Oh in the fold, SK is considered to be KCC’s most formidable opponent in their quest for the title.
SK head coach Jeon Hee-cheol said, “Our overall speed might be lower without Choi Joon-yong, but I think we can make up for it with Osegun. I think it’s a great opportunity for us to have two cards in our hand, speed basketball and set-up, as he has a lot of sense and can be very destructive in the set-office. We will utilize him well to fill the void left by Choi Joon-yong.”
Kim Sun-hyung added, “We have a lot of players who are strong in big games. The younger players have also gained a lot of experience. We will do well this season,” he promised.
In addition, Moon Sung-geon, who along with Oh Se-geun won the integration title last season, moved to Suwon KT, and Yang Hong-seok, who left KT for Changwon LG, is poised to perform better under the guidance of Cho Sang-hyun.
The battle of tactics between the ‘new face’ managers will also be one of the highlights of the season.
The Wonju DB has named Kim Joo-sung as its new head coach after serving as acting head coach last season. After shedding the acting label, Kim will be put to the test this season with proper competition.굿모닝토토 주소
KT entrusted the baton to Song Young-jin, who has worked his way up through the elite ranks from player to coach. “I will prepare well and challenge for the team and my dream of becoming a champion,” said Song, who is entering his first season with key players such as Heo Hoon, Moon Sung-gon, and Ha Yoon-ki.
Daegu KOGAS promoted Kang Hyuk to head coach, replacing former coach Yoo Yoo-hoon, who left the team.
After finishing ninth last season, KOGAS did not make any significant reinforcements compared to other teams. Rather, the team was weakened by the departure of key players such as Lee Dae-sung and Jung Hyo-geun. Kang’s shoulders are heavy.
“We have nowhere to go but down,” Kang said. Last season, we were ninth in the standings and 10th in defense. We stayed at the bottom because the basics were broken. I and the players prepared a lot in the offseason. There will be many ups and downs in the season, but we will gradually reduce them and create an average season,” he emphasized.