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DB Kim Jong-gyu, Eager to Restore Honor for 'Hangzhou Disaster', "I'm Looking Forward to the National Team"
Kim Jong-gyu (DB), who has played for the men's national basketball team since 2011, unusually raised his voice directly through social networking services (SNS) in October of last year.
At the time, Kim Jong-gyu said, “This is not the end of Korean basketball,” and asked, “Please help the Korean Basketball Association a little more for our juniors.”
As the national team's worst-ever performance at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games was described as a 'disaster' in the media, veteran Kim Jong-gyu revealed his true feelings. 안전놀이터
The mood in the national team was so dark that Kim Jong-gyu actually made a statement that was close to a public apology.
The national team's 7th place finish at the Hangzhou Asian Games is its lowest ranking ever.
In the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup held in July 2022, they met in the quarterfinals with China, whom they defeated by 12 points, and were completely defeated by 23 points at one point, causing a particularly strong anger among fans due to poor performance.
Kim Jong-gyu, who remembered his failure at this time, succeeded in recovering the skills that seemed to have fallen in recent years in the regular professional basketball season of the 2023-2024 season, which opened immediately after the competition.
Kim Jong-gyu is averaging 12.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 36 games this season.
The field goal success rate is 62.2%, the highest since his professional debut.
Another opportunity came to Kim Jong-gyu, who succeeded in rebounding.
He was named on the reserve list for the national team that is making a new start under coach Ahn Jun-ho.
Kim Jong-gyu dreams of being included in the 12-man list for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, which will be held in a home and away format from the 22nd to the 25th of next month.
Korean basketball has always had difficulty forming an 'elite team' due to a series of injuries to key players when national team games are held.
Kim Jong-gyu has been at the forefront of Korean basketball by showing perfect attendance to the national team despite suffering a number of injuries.
Kim Jong-gyu, who met with reporters after the regular league away game against Seoul Samsung (108-75 DB win) on the 30th, emphasized that being selected for the national team is always a precious opportunity for him.
Kim Jong-gyu said, "I don't know if I will be selected in the end, but being selected for the national team is the proudest thing as a basketball player. It is always an honor and something for which I will be grateful."
He added, "The coach has also changed.
I don't know which players will be selected, but each of our players will have strengths, and they will be selected based on these.
I think they can do well.
I'm looking forward to it."