'AG Gold' Lee Jung-hyun's candid confession: "After returning from the national team, I didn't feel tired at first, so I kept playing... and then the aftereffects hit hard"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Lee Jung-hyun (27), the 'ace' of Goyang Sono Skygunners, candidly revealed the physical decline and aftereffects he had been quietly suffering from before escaping a grueling losing streak.

Goyang Sono Skygunners secured a decisive 95-82 victory in their Round 1 home game against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus held at Goyang Sono Arena on the 16th. After winning the opening game, Sono had fallen into a quagmire of four consecutive losses, but they succeeded in turning the momentum around with this win.

At the center of the victory was ace Lee Jung-hyun. Lee played for 34 minutes and 56 seconds on the court, recording 16 points (including three 3-pointers), 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, leading the team's offense to drive them to victory. His timely perimeter shots and seasoned control of pace crushed Hyundai Mobis' pursuit.

Entering the interview room as the game's MVP after the match, Lee Jung-hyun first let out a sigh of relief. He stated, "After winning the opener and then suffering four straight losses, my recent performance has been far below expectations," adding, "I talked a lot with my teammates and tried to coordinate our play during practice, but I feel that our shortcomings led to the losing streak. I think this is our low point. From here on, it can only get better."

On this day, Lee Jung-hyun candidly revealed the hidden backstory behind his balance issues in the early part of the season. Although Lee had returned home as a hero with a gold medal around his neck after representing the country at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, his initial eagerness upon returning had come back to haunt him. He shook his head when asked if the issue was due to insufficient training time leading to poor coordination.

In response to related questions, Lee Jung-hyun reflected, "Honestly, my condition was very good after coming back from the national team. I felt uplifted after winning the gold medal. We had agreed with the coach that I would play for about 20 minutes during the open match (exhibition game), but since I didn't feel tired at all, I kept playing and focused on coordinating our movements."

The problem arose afterward. Fatigue that arrived late crushed his body. Lee Jung-hyun confessed, "After that, the aftereffects really hit hard. There were parts where my performance was poor because I couldn't control my physical stamina or body well." He added, "However, by handling a lot of playing time and resting properly when off the court, I am gradually getting better."

He also expressed clear thoughts on 'offensive coordination in the 2nd and 3rd quarters,' which had been the team's biggest tactical challenge. This is because, starting this season, two foreign players can be on the court simultaneously during the 2nd and 3rd quarters, making coexistence and synergy creation a core task for the team. It is also assessed that Sono has faced some difficulties as they changed two of their foreign players.

Regarding this, Lee Jung-hyun pointed out, "In the 2nd and 3rd quarters, two foreign players, an Asian quota player, and two domestic players play together. In terms of offensive power, since we have a group of highly skilled players, as soon as a slight chance appeared, they would immediately shoot, often breaking the flow of the offense."

He continued, "We are constantly talking about creating opportunities more carefully among ourselves and looking for better open chances for each other. In today's game, there were more open chances than in previous games, and that led to our victory."

Finally, Lee Jung-hyun stated, "If we move the ball actively left and right and strive to open up better chances for each other, high-percentage shots can come out. If we continue playing team basketball like that, I believe the probability of winning will naturally increase. We will work harder to coordinate our play going forward," reaffirming his determination befitting an ace.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original