[Retirement Interview] From Draft Frustration to College League, Training Player, and Champion Finals Victory... Kim Dan-bi: "I Want to Praise Myself for Enduring Well"

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Dan-bi (34), a forward for the Yongin Samsung Life Women's Professional Basketball team, is leaving the court she has grown fond of. She was a late-blooming player who created many stories throughout her career. From failing the rookie draft to playing in the college league and enduring life as a training player, she overcame these challenges to become a starter and experience a championship victory. Reflecting on her basketball life, Kim Dan-bi said, "I want to praise myself for enduring well."

In a recent phone interview with StarNews, Kim Dan-bi said, "I had always been thinking about retirement. In fact, after finishing the 2024-2025 season, I thought a lot about retiring. However, I endured with the thought of playing just one more season. But I struggled last season because I couldn't play many games due to injuries. At the same time, I feel like I have sorted out my mind. There are many young players now, and my physical condition was not good either. I felt like I was not being much help to the team."

She further explained the background, saying, "I also did not see any part where I could grow more as a basketball player. I came to the conclusion that it was right to wrap things up, which led to my decision to retire."

Although she was not a flashy star, Kim Dan-bi's playing career was like a movie. Her starting point was by no means glamorous. A graduate of Cheongju Girls' High School, Kim Dan-bi submitted her application for the 2009 rookie draft, but her name was never called. Overwhelmed by great disappointment, she even considered quitting basketball for a while. However, Kim Dan-bi gathered her resolve again. After playing in the college league at Gwangju University, she joined Woori Bank as a training player in 2011 and finally stepped onto the professional stage with difficulty.

Kim Dan-bi recalled, "When I was not selected in the draft, I thought I should just quit basketball. But the Gwangju University national team coach took me in, and I was lucky enough to return to the professional league." She continued, "Because I joined Woori Bank as a training player, I was in an uncertain situation where anything could happen at any time. So the thought of 'I must survive no matter what' was strong. I approached it with the mindset of wanting to play as many games as possible."

She added, "After that, I set a goal to improve every year. It was sometimes difficult because things did not always go as planned, but I endured with the mindset of 'let's do better this year than last year.'"

In fact, Kim Dan-bi grew little by little. In her debut season, the 2011-2012 season, she played only one regular-season game with a total playing time of 1 minute and 47 seconds. However, she did not give up. Kim Dan-bi gradually increased her playing time and emerged as a key sixth-man resource, appearing in 23 regular-season games during the 2014-2015 season. Standing at 175cm, Kim Dan-bi displayed tenacious play near the basket with her strong power and was also equipped with outside shooting, earning her evaluation as a resource with high versatility.

Reflecting on her playing career, Kim Dan-bi said, "I want to tell myself that I did well for enduring in any way possible. Honestly, unless you are a first-round draft pick, players drafted in the third round or those who started as training players like me do not receive much attention. In such a situation, just enduring until here means a lot to me."

Eventually, Kim Dan-bi secured a starting position. Leaving Woori Bank in 2017, she wore the Bucheon Hana Bank uniform and played as a starter-level player for three seasons. Even after moving to Yongin Samsung Life, she was evaluated as an important resource for the team. At Samsung Life, she also created the best moment of her career: the championship victory in the 2020-2021 season.

Kim Dan-bi explained, "There are many memorable games, but if I have to pick one, it is when I won the championship finals with Samsung Life. That was the first time I played as a starter in the playoffs and championship finals. Therefore, the championship victory achieved at Samsung Life is the most memorable for me."

After deciding to retire, Kim Dan-bi received sincere farewell messages from her Samsung Life teammates. Her roommate, Yu Ha-eun (20), even gave her a handwritten letter. Kim Dan-bi said, "I was so moved when I received Ha-eun's handwritten letter. It is the most memorable. Other players also said many things like 'Unnie, you worked so hard' and 'It's so regrettable.' I am so grateful."

Kim Dan-bi also expressed gratitude to her husband. She said, "He has visited the arena many times and came all the way to the Busan away game to cheer enthusiastically. He is also the person who was most regretful about my retirement," conveying her affection.

She has not yet concretely decided on her second life. Kim Dan-bi described the present as a "process of searching." However, she is keeping the path of coaching open. She stated, "If given the opportunity, I would like to try coaching. Whether it is elementary, middle, or high school students, if they come to find me, I am willing to try."

Kim Dan-bi also sent affectionate encouragement to juniors who came to the professional league after going through the college stage. Currently, Kang Yu-rim (29), Kim Ah-reum (32, both Samsung Life), and Lee Myeong-gwan (30, Woori Bank) have entered the professional stage after playing in the college league and are now active as starter-level players for their respective teams.

Kim Dan-bi praised, "In Yu-rim's case, she followed the same path as me from elementary, middle, and high school all the way to Gwangju University. In the professional league, our connection continued through Hana Bank and Samsung Life. Yu-rim also had difficulties but overcame them well. Seeing that she received the regular-season rookie award and even made it to the national team, I think she is truly amazing."

Finally, Kim Dan-bi smiled, "There is still a very famous namesake unnie (Kim Dan-bi of Woori Bank) who is still active beautifully in the professional league, so my name does not appear much." She continued, "Still, I hope you remember that a player named Kim Dan-bi existed. I want to remain as a player who silently worked from behind, was not very noticeable, but fulfilled the role needed by the team."

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*This content was translated by AI.