'Heading on Bare Ground': Choi Jun-yong Announces Move to the U.S., "I Want to Return Wearing an NBA Uniform with a 30 billion won Contract" [Yeouido On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Choi Jun-yong (32), the captain who led Busan KCC to victory in the championship finals, has officially declared his challenge to the U.S., setting aside all guaranteed wealth and fame.

On the morning of the 29th at 11 a.m., Choi held a press conference at Studio4 of the Conrad Seoul Hotel on Yeouido in Seoul, openly sharing his feelings about moving to the U.S. and outlining his concrete ambitions.

Shortly after reaching the pinnacle of success, Choi decided on this surprising challenge. He stated, "Challenging the U.S. has always been a dream I held since elementary school." He added, "I won the championship and earned well financially, but when I asked myself hard questions, deep regrets and lingering regrets remained. I wanted to collide with reality and see how far my basketball skills would go by 'heading on bare ground' in the U.S., where no one knows me, rather than being treated as Choi Jun-yong in Korea."

As he left behind his stable life in Korea, there was significant opposition and sorrow from those around him. Teammate Heo Woong expressed his disappointment with complaints, while Song Kyo-chang, who had previously experienced the overseas stage, reportedly showed respect. Choi shared, "My parents were initially disappointed but ultimately supported me, urging me to stay as long as possible since I was going anyway. The KCC club director and department head tried to dissuade me by raising their voices, considering my age and situation, but because my resolve was so firm, they eventually sent me off with the words to challenge fully and return."

Recently undergoing knee surgery, Choi plans to focus on recovery for about two weeks after arriving in the U.S., aiming to be in peak physical condition by mid-August. Although he learned through his agent that NBA G League officials have shown interest, he has resolved to be evaluated solely on his skills without asking for any specific information.

When asked about his goals, Choi gave a confident answer characteristic of him. He said, "My dream in the NBA is undoubtedly to sign a contract worth 300 billion won and return wearing an NBA uniform. One must dream big." He emphasized, "Whether I succeed and return with 300 billion won, or whether I 'head on bare ground' and return with a fractured skull, I believe the act of challenging itself is already success."

He further expressed his determination regarding the national team jersey and participation in the Asian Games. Choi stated, "I have spoken separately with the association. While there may be concerns about fairness since I cannot participate in evaluation games, the association has assured me that I am a proven player. If they call me to the Asian Games after I improve my physical condition further in the U.S., I am willing to play willingly for the fans, younger players, and myself."

Additionally, Choi mentioned, "I briefly considered moving to Japan but decided it was right to challenge where the best are." He added, "While I was hesitant about challenging, I felt fear, but once I made up my mind, excitement grew even stronger. I will go to the U.S. stage and clearly advertise that 'Koreans can play basketball well.'"

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*This content was translated by AI.