'Veteran' from 'Completed Military Service' to '19-Year-Old' Youngest... Hidden Heroes Behind the 'First Korean Basketball Gold in 12 Years'

*This content was translated by AI.

The path for South Korea's men's basketball team to reclaim the Asian Games title after 12 years was supported by 'unsung heroes' who quietly took on difficult tasks both on and off the court. The harmony between veteran big men, who guarded the paint without any naturalized players, and promising rookies who energetically contributed, led to a valuable gold medal.

The standout player throughout the tournament was undoubtedly ace Lee Hyun-jung. Lee Hyun-jung displayed offensive prowess that did not discriminate between inside and outside positions, and in the final match, despite playing the swingman position, he grabbed 18 rebounds. The perimeter shooters of the guard line, including Lee Jeong-hyun who led the KBL last season, also showcased a strength of Korean basketball.

However, the background that allowed perimeter attacks to gain momentum was the dedication of veteran big men who protected the paint zone.

South Korea entered this tournament without any naturalized players. In contrast, rival Japan fielded naturalized player Alex Kirk and mixed-race big man Avis Shaffer, while Saudi Arabia also deployed tall center Mohamed Al-Suwailim, placing a significant burden on South Korea's interior defense.

The presence of veteran Lee Seung-hyun (34·Ulsan Hyundai Mobis) and Jang Jae-seok (35·Busan KCC) was dazzling. Lee Seung-hyun, who is slightly under 2 meters tall, pushed away opposing tall centers from getting deep with powerful defense and saved the guards' movements with solid screens. Jang Jae-seok, at 2 meters 3, fulfilled his role by leveraging his quick feet and abundant experience relative to his height.

In particular, although Jang Jae-seok was not classified as an offensive player with a career average of 6.4 points per game in the KBL and a career-high season average of 9.1 points, he displayed sophisticated footwork and a keen touch on shots during this tournament. In the group stage matchup against Japan, he recorded 18 points and 8 rebounds with an impressive field goal percentage of 69% (9/13). Even in the final match, which was marred by controversial calls, he remained steady and held his ground.

The presence of the youngest lineup members Moon Yu-hyun (22·Anyang Jeong Kwanjang) and Eddie Daniel (19·Seoul SK) also stood out. The two rookies who debuted in the pro league last season solidly filled the squad's depth.

Point guard Moon Yu-hyun, who was selected for the national team during his time at Korea University, displayed stable game management unlike a typical rookie. After scoring 10 points and dishing out 8 assists in the group stage match against Indonesia, he guarded the court for nine minutes in the Korea-Japan final, handling defense and leadership without strain.

Eddie Daniel, the youngest member of the team, added vitality to the squad with his unique activity level. Although playing time decreased as the tournament progressed into the knockout stage, he actively cheered from the bench and showcased solid defense and transition abilities by playing around 10 minutes per game through the quarterfinals. He also recorded 5 points and 4 rebounds in the group stage against Japan. Daniel, who won the Basketball Star Award at the 2024 Futures Star Awards and was named the 2025 Grand Prize winner, immediately entered the pro league after graduating from high school. He expanded his standing under coach Choi Hee-cheol's system and made it to the national team, earning military service exemption benefits along with Moon Yu-hyun through this gold medal.

With the firepower of the aces combined with the sacrifices of the veteran big men guarding the paint and the energy of the rookies, South Korea's men's basketball team achieved the result of winning the Asian Games title for the first time in 12 years.

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*This content was translated by AI.