'First in KBL history to win as player, coach, and manager at the same club': Lee Sang-min "I almost never won as a manager again..."

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Sang-min (54), a computer guard who represents the Korean basketball world and is known as the "eternal older brother," led his former team, Busan KCC, to the league championship in his first season as head coach, etching an unprecedented record into KBL history.

Busan KCC defeated Goyang Sonos 76-68 in the fifth game of the "2025-2026 LG Electronics KBL" Championship final (best-of-seven series) held at Goyang Sonos Arena in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, securing the series with a 4-1 record and reclaiming the championship title for the first time in two seasons. With this victory, KCC, the sixth-ranked team in the regular season, achieved the "miracle of 0%" by becoming the first team in history to win the championship final from the sixth seed. This is the first time in the 29th-year history of professional basketball in Korea.

With this championship, manager Lee Sang-min became the first person in KBL history to experience a title win as a player, coach, and manager at a single club. While managers Kim Seung-ki, Jeon Hee-cheol, and Jo Sang-hyun had previously won titles, none did so with the same club. Having led the team to victory as the "computer guard" during his playing days with Daejeon Hyundai and Jeonju KCC, the predecessors of KCC, he proved himself to be the undisputed legend of KCC by bringing the championship trophy back to his former team after transitioning into a coaching role.

After the game, manager Lee Sang-min could not hide his overwhelming emotions. The manager smiled and said, "I thought I would cry, but I didn't," then added, "In fact, I even thought I might never win as a manager again." He expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am thankful to the club that allowed me to start as a coach, return to the manager's seat, and enjoy the joy of winning." He further emphasized, "I am proud of the players who kept their promise before the season."

When asked about the secret behind the team's undefeated run in the playoffs, the manager pointed to the players' "sacrifice." He stated, "Our star players, each with strong individual personalities, stepped aside for the team, took on their roles, and made the current success possible."

He also opened up about the weight of winning as a coach. "As a player, I only had to take care of my own body, but the pressure of devising strategies and leading the team was immense," he confessed, adding, "I was so nervous that I couldn't sleep." He also added, "I am happy that I was able to keep my promise to the KCC Honorary Chairman and my father, who are in heaven, to win as a manager."

Manager Lee Sang-min, who achieved the miracle of leading a sixth-ranked team to the championship, has now firmly established himself among the ranks of "championship-winning coaches," heralding a new golden era for KCC.

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*This content was translated by AI.