“I know because I’ve been through it”: Head Coach Lee Sang-min says “Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop, named a title contender, will face significant pressure” [On-site in Busan]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Ahead of his first matchup as head coaches against Lee Gyu-seop, head coach of the Wonju DB Promy, who won the championship finals with him last season as part of the coaching staff, Lee Sang-min, head coach of the Busan KCC Egis, signaled a head-on confrontation by previewing his team’s signature fast transition offense.

The KCC will face the DB in their home game of the 2026-2027 KCC Pro Basketball regular season at the Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium at 2 p.m. on the 10th.

After losing the opening game against the Changwon LG Sakers (68-103), the KCC have won two consecutive games, defeating the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus (97-87) and the Daegu Korean Air Jumbos (103-98), and are aiming for a three-game winning streak at home.

This game marks the first stage where Head Coach Lee Sang-min, who took the helm of the KCC last season and led them to the top, clashes head-to-head with Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop, who served as the KCC’s assistant coach at the time and co-created the championship ring.

Speaking before the game, Head Coach Lee Sang-min said, “We prepared as we always do. We are a team that must solve its offense first rather than focusing on defense.” He added, “Recently, Sean Long has played more aggressively than in the past, and we have been scoring well from the start. We will continue our fast attack in transition situations.”

Although the KCC lost key players from last season’s championship run, Choi Jun-yong and Song Gyo-chang, their first-choice foreign player, Sean Long, remains strong, and the explosive firepower of new foreign player Louis King has been added. Furthermore, Jang Jae-seok, who returned with a gold medal around his neck from the Asian Games alongside brothers Heo Woong and Heo Hoon, has joined to bolster height and mobility.

What Head Coach Lee Sang-min is most wary of is the DB’s mobility. The DB, who were picked as a strong title contender at this season’s media day, feature a formidable foreign player lineup with Henry Ellenson and Raison Hammonds, led in the frontcourt by Asian quota player Sean Albano. Head Coach Lee Sang-min noted, “The most frightening thing about the DB is that all their tall players run fast.” He continued, “In set offense, the success rate is less than 50%. We must reduce turnovers and thoroughly execute backcourts to block the opponent’s fast attack.”

Regarding defense against Albano, he explained, “There are matchup opponents like Heo Hoon, but there is no one who can stop him perfectly.” He added, “The absence of Choi Jun-yong and Song Gyo-chang leaves a big hole, but other players must run an extra step and solve it through team defense.”

He also shared unique feelings about facing Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop, with whom he shared the same locker room last season. Head Coach Lee Sang-min smiled and said, “Excluding my playing days, this is the first time we are meeting as head coaches against each other.”

Last season, the KCC were named title contenders by all other team head coaches. This season, the DB received all the votes. Head Coach Lee Sang-min revealed, “Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop will face significant pressure. I have experienced it directly, and when other team head coaches pick you as a title contender, the pressure is never easy to bear.”

When asked about an anecdote where he handed over the championship ring to Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop the previous day, Head Coach Lee Sang-min said, “The burden felt as a coach and the burden of shouldering the entire team as a head coach are completely different.” He sent warm encouragement, adding, “Ultimately, the players on the court must deliver. It is a process that a rookie head coach must overcome.”

Head Coach Lee Sang-min stated, “The KCC is not a defense-specialized team. We can only win if our offense flows smoothly from the first half.” He resolved, “We will gift our fans a victory with exciting offensive basketball at home.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original