[On-site Interview] '15 rebounds shone brighter than 6 points': Lee Hyun-joong's humility... "It wasn't me who grabbed them; the team created it"

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Hyun-joong, the ace of the South Korean Nam Ja-nong-gu (CEO) team, credited his teammates for his remarkable 15 rebounds.

On the 4th, South Korea defeated the Philippines 81-55 in a home game at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena during the Hana Bank Invitational 2026 Men's National Team Evaluation Match.

This evaluation match served as a practical mock exam to finalize performance and condition ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. South Korea will face the Philippines again in a second evaluation match at the same venue on the 6th at 2 p.m.

Under the leadership of coach Nicholas Mazulis (Latvia), South Korea is set to compete in Group A against Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Japan at the Asian Games, aiming for a quarterfinal berth. They will play their first group-stage match against Saudi Arabia on the 10th, followed by matches against Indonesia on the 11th and Japan on the 13th.

Under Coach Mazulis, South Korean men's basketball had struggled to gain momentum until recently. Prior to this game, their official record stood at just two wins and six losses. However, after defeating Saudi Arabia in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers on the 31st of last month, they also overcame the Philippines, successfully turning the tide.

After the game, Lee Hyun-joong said, "It was a match with lingering regrets as there are still areas to improve," but added, "What truly made me feel good was that Lee Jung-hyun found his rhythm. Additionally, players coming off the bench such as Lee Won-seok, Moon Yu-hyun, Eddie Daniel, and Jang Jae-seok each fulfilled their roles well."

He continued, "They injected energy when scoring was difficult and performed well defensively. I'm not satisfied with my personal stats, but I'm happy that other players stepped up. Coach Mazulis listens to the players' feedback and communicates with them while studying each player's strengths. I am grateful to him as well."

Lee Hyun-joong emphasized that despite a grueling schedule including the NBA Summer League in the U.S. this summer, his physical condition remains without issues.

He stated, "It has been quite some time since I returned from the U.S. Other players also spent extended periods in the Middle East. I believe claiming fatigue is an excuse. As athletes, we must manage our bodies, and with significant help from our trainers, we are managing well."

He further remarked, "I'm still not satisfied with my shooting. However, whenever opportunities arise, I will keep shooting. I will also continue making plays that can benefit my teammates."

In today's match, Lee Jung-hyun led the South Korean team with 27 points. Lee Won-seok contributed 10 points, while Yeo Jun-seok and Moon Yu-hyun each added 8 points to bolster the effort.

Although Lee Hyun-joong scored only six points, he contributed to the team's victory in another way by securing an impressive 15 rebounds.

However, Lee Hyun-joong stressed that even these 15 rebounds were not achieved alone.

He explained, "I'd like to call it 'team spirit.' Thanks to players at positions three and four, including Yeo Jun-seok, who diligently executed box-outs, I was able to secure team rebounds."

He added, "Teammates in the frontcourt also performed well in guard defense. However, I still feel there is room for improvement in my own defense."

He noted that his teammates' performances alleviated some of his burden.

Lee Hyun-joong reflected, "It's important that when I miss shots, other players step up to solve the problem. The entire team needs to maintain momentum, as we did today. When Lee Jung-hyun was off the court, Moon Yu-hyun showed excellent form. I felt no pressure and was at ease, enjoying the game. Thanks to that, I was able to grab rebounds effectively."

Regarding his pursuit of an NBA opportunity, he clearly stated his intention to focus solely on the national team for now.

He said, "I am aware of the attention I'm receiving. However, I am currently a member of the South Korean national team participating in evaluation matches, and the Asian Games are still ahead. Right now, I am concentrating on the national team. If I do so, I believe good results will follow."

Although the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games open on the 19th, basketball matches begin before the official opening due to scheduling constraints.

Lee Hyun-joong remarked, "Starting early might actually allow us to receive more support. Joy outweighs pressure for me, which is why today's game was enjoyable. I told my teammates not to try to match other teams but to focus on ourselves. If we do that, we will naturally be able to play well."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.