*This content was translated by AI.
Recently, the Korean and Chinese basketball industries have been suffering from controversy over "manipulation" side by side. In Korea, suspicions of "deliberate defeat" by the Seoul SK Knights to select a specific opponent were raised, while in China, suspicions of "age manipulation" of promising prospects are emerging, shaking fairness, the basis of sports.
According to multiple media outlets, including China's Titan Sports and Sohu Dotcom, on the 12th, the alleged identity manipulation surrounding the key guard Riiser of the Chinese men's basketball U-18 (under 18) team, which is currently training, is reminiscent of a detective novel. The starting point was a question raised on social media in China on the 10th, saying, "Lee looks too much like Jang Han-bo (20), a prospect who disappeared a few years ago."
The evidence found by netizens is specific. Jang Han-bo, who was born in 2006 and is now 20 years old, has lost his official playing record since 2022, and Reiser, who was registered as a 2008 player, began his career in 2024. The two players are said to match not only their appearance and physique, but also the position of the dot on the right side of their neck and their left-handed shooting form.
The definitive proof was 'the lunar calendar birthday'. If Jang Han-bo (March 19, 2006) and Riiser (March 27, 2008) are converted into the lunar calendar, both are "February 20". It is pointed out that while washing his status by lowering his age by two years, he could not change his original lunar birthday.
As suspicions spread, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) immediately launched an investigation, and Reaser was suddenly excluded from the entry for the warm-up match against the Canadian basketball team on the 11th. Reiser was a key player in China's U-18 national team with the most points and most assists. Fans in China are quickly urging Jang Han-bo and Ri to go ahead with the investigation.
The Korean basketball community is also noisy due to controversy over manipulation. The Seoul SK Knights are suspected of intentionally losing the game to take the playoff match to their advantage in the final round of the regular league. In the semifinal playoff, he played unfaithfully to avoid the tricky Busan KCC Egis and meet the Goyang Sono Sky Gunners, who are leading the regular league with 2 wins and 4 losses.
KBL held a financial committee meeting on the 11th and imposed a fine of 5 million won on SK coach Jeon Hee-chul, saying, "I undermined the sports spirit by unfaithful game management." In fact, he admitted to some extent the circumstances of deliberate defeat.
But the result of the "trick" was disastrous. SK chose its opponent directly, but was completely defeated by Goyang Sono. In the first round of the semifinal playoff held on the 12th, he suffered a crushing defeat by a whopping 29 points, 76-105. SK continues to face strong criticism, losing both justification and practicality.
China's suspicion of age manipulation and Korea's deliberate defeat are different, but they are in line with each other in that they "tried to make profits in the world of competition by any means." Fans are enthusiastic about sports because everyone sweats honestly on the court in equal conditions. Above all, it is not a professional sport without fans.
The sarcastic point of "Is manipulation a trend?" clearly shows the current trust crisis in the basketball world. A 'designed match' that deceives fans will eventually lead to the destruction of the basketball board. It is time for the Korean and Chinese basketball authorities to take stern measures and sincere reflection from their members.
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*This content was translated by AI.
