"He's a top-tier KBL player, so why move to Japan?" Song Kyoo-chang had only one answer... "I wanted to play better basketball"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Song Kyoo-chang, who has joined Japan's B.League with Osaka Evessa, revealed the reasons behind his decision to move abroad and his determination for this new challenge.

After playing a practice match against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis on the 2nd at Ookinari Arena Maishima auxiliary court in Osaka, Japan, Song Kyoo-chang shared his thoughts on going overseas and his future goals through a joint press conference.

Song Kyoo-chang played for Busan KCC during the 2025–2026 season and experienced winning the championship finals. The joy of reaching the top was brief; ahead of the 2026–2027 season, he chose to go overseas. After reaching an agreement with KCC and becoming a free agent, he signed a one-year contract with Osaka Evessa.

This is his first experience playing abroad since making his professional debut in the 2015–2016 season. Although leaving a familiar environment means starting everything anew, the adaptation process is proceeding smoothly.

Song Kyoo-chang said, "I decided to go overseas because I want to play better basketball. I have set specific goals for myself regarding my gameplay, and I chose this challenge in order to get even closer to those goals."

He added, "Having lived a stable life before coming to an unfamiliar environment, I consider this a turning point in my life. It is an opportunity to grow as a person while developing my basketball skills."

Song Kyoo-chang has already built a brilliant career in the KBL. In his second professional season during the 2016–2017 campaign, he received the Best Improvement Player Award. In the 2017–2018 season, he was selected to the Defensive Five. From the 2019–2020 season through two consecutive years, he made it onto the All-Star Five, and in the 2020–2021 season, he captured the Regular Season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Although he has secured multiple titles on the domestic stage, a lingering desire to become an even better player remained within him. Ultimately, he turned his attention to overseas play in order to grow one step further.

While he was a top-tier player in the KBL, he now faces the challenge anew in the B.League. In this new environment, he must prove his competitiveness and establish his position.

Song Kyoo-chang said, "I have been constantly thinking about how to play better basketball. Since I don't know how long I will be able to play overseas, I truly cherish this current time. I want to use these moments as meaningfully as possible for my development."

To settle into the new league, he must quickly adapt to the unique game style of the B.League.

Song Kyoo-chang stated, "The B.League is tough and involves a lot of physical contact. To survive, I need to refine my shooting even more."

He continued, "To shoot well, movement is also important. I need to make some adjustments to become more concise. I plan to correct small details one by one."

His goals for both himself and his team are clear. Song Kyoo-chang said, "Personally, I want to play in all games without injury," and added, "My goal is to reach the top together with my team."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original