[FA Behind the Scenes] "Please Give Me a Chance" A Call from an Unknown Number... Jo Eun-hoo's Courage to Be Recognized by 'DB' After Lee Gyu-seop Acknowledged

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Gyu-seop (49), the newly appointed head coach of Wonju DB in professional basketball, recently received a call from an unfamiliar number. The caller was Jo Eun-hoo (27), who held free agent (FA) status.

Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop told StarNews on the 28th, "In fact, I had no prior connection with Jo Eun-hoo. We had never met, and there was no overlap in our backgrounds. When I answered the call from an unknown number, it turned out to be Jo Eun-hoo."

On that day, DB announced, "We have signed guard Jo Eun-hoo as a free agent." The contract duration is one year. Jo Eun-hoo's courage played a significant role in this transfer.

Jo Eun-hoo called Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop for one reason: to directly convey his desire to play on the court wearing the DB uniform. Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop recalled, "Jo Eun-hoo said, 'If you give me a chance, I want to come to DB and work hard.' However, I could not give an immediate answer. I explained, 'I could not make a signing decision right at that moment. So I told him, 'I understand your determination well. We are also holding meetings regarding FA signings, so let us discuss it further.'"

At the same time, DB needed a backup guard to support Lee Alvano. Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop stated, "This was a concern, so I was reviewing the list of guards among the FA targets, and we actually held meetings regarding signings."

Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop said, "It is not easy for someone you have never met, especially a newly appointed head coach of a new team, to contact you directly and ask for a chance. If I were in that position, I would have had many concerns. Nevertheless, Jo Eun-hoo mustered the courage to contact me, and thanks to that, our connection was formed."

There was no special personal connection between Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop and Jo Eun-hoo. However, Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop was well aware of Jo Eun-hoo as a player. During his playing days, Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop played for Seoul Samsung. After retirement, he served as a coach for Samsung and Busan KCC, and also worked as a commentator for college basketball and the KBL. Additionally, his two sons, Lee Seung-jun and Lee Seung-min, are currently playing for Yongsan High School, so he has consistently followed amateur and college basketball. Naturally, he has checked Jo Eun-hoo's play multiple times.

Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop said, "I have known Jo Eun-hoo since he was in high school. He was a highly promising player who played an ace role at Sungkyunkwan University. Although he had ups and downs after entering the professional league, he shows hustle plays and perseverance in defense." He continued, "While performance is important, we also discussed team atmosphere and training attitude with Jo Eun-hoo. Since he promised to work hard, we decided to move forward together."

With a single courageous call, he secured the opportunity he desperately wanted. Now, the remaining task is to prove himself. The key lies in how Jo Eun-hoo will respond to Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop's expectations and whether he can seize opportunities amidst fierce competition.

Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop emphasized, "I hope he does not forget that desperation." He added, "The summer training camp will be held, followed by a training camp abroad. I hope Jo Eun-hoo continues to show the same attitude he has now." He further stated, "There are certainly players within the team who must compete. I hope Jo Eun-hoo injects good energy into the team through competition with those players. He must seize the opportunity himself."

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*This content was translated by AI.