*This content was translated by AI.
The head coach's answer, who led the team to its first-ever regular league championship, was humbled at every moment. Cho Sang-hyun (50), the coach, waved his hands despite the rave reviews from people around him.
Coach Cho Sang-hyun won his first career coach award at the 2025-2026 LG Electronics Professional Basketball Awards held at the Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas Grand Ballroom in Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 9th.
Under Cho Sang-hyun, LG ranked highest in the regular league with 36 wins and 18 losses in 54 games this season. Coach Cho Sang-hyun, who had swallowed his disappointment by staying in second place for three consecutive seasons from 2022-2023, finally marked a milestone in LG's history as the first regular league championship.
Director Cho Sang-hyun, who met after the ceremony, said, "As you know, I'm a director who is worried, angry, and takes a lot of work. "I think all the front family members were with me, so I think I made a good result," he said.
Head coach Cho Sang-hyun then recalled the award-winning moment of Seoul SK coach Jeon Hee-chul, who was close to him last season, and said, "Last year was in the fourth year of the awards ceremony. Seeing a close coach Jeon Hee-chul receive the award, I thought I really wanted to stand there once, he said, smiling, "Thanks to the players' hard work, I was able to stand here."
At the awards ceremony, LG's domestic players did not win many major individual titles. Coach Cho Sang-hyun responded, "Due to the nature of our team and my basketball style, I don't depend on a specific player," adding, "I'm proud of the players who made a great team that ranks first in the regular league." I am proud of the trio Tamayo, Yoo Ki-sang, and Yang Joon-seok, who were born in 2001, and veterans such as Heo Il-young and Jang Min-guk took the center stage well. It's better because the team itself seems to be doing well than personal awards," he stressed.
Coach Cho Sang-hyun, who also described himself as a tricky leader, said, "I know what kind of person I am even if the players live together for a month. I have a lot of worries and anger, but my sincerity is not to hate the players. I just want the team to go in the direction of winning, and the players accepted the sincerity well," he said.
He cited principles and trust as the secret of LG's success in improving its constitution as a strong team after Cho Sang-hyun's appointment. Coach Cho Sang-hyun said, "I'm solid and consider principles," and added, "The players kept it well." The most important thing is to respect the players. They make a lot of promises to keep training hours thoroughly. He explained that the culture created by building trust is LG's own power.
The biggest stress of the season was injury as well. Coach Cho Sang-hyun said, "I was really sensitive when Tamayo was out for a month and Maray was out for about eight weeks. I was stressed because I didn't have enough time to work with the players due to the dispatch of the national team, he said. "Actually, the goal was about the round of six, but it was stressful again as the players were good since December. In the end, it was analyzed that the decisive factor in winning the championship was that the players grew up and overcame themselves.
There was a wave of compliments among fans that "LG's 1 option is Cho Sang-hyun's tactics." Director Cho Sang-hyun said, "I still watch a lot of videos because I can't judge at the moment. I'm just a person who makes boards and plans. It's important how well the players execute on the court. I'm just helping," he said, giving the ball to the players.
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*This content was translated by AI.
