From "Five Straight Last-Place Finishes" to a New Chapter in KBL History: A Dramatic Turnaround Is Taking Shape... Samsung Challenges for the First-Ever "Nine-Game Opening Winning Streak"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

A team that had languished at the bottom of the standings for five consecutive seasons is now challenging for a historic feat never before seen in KBL history. It is a remarkable turnaround drama led by Seoul Samsung under Head Coach Kim Sang-sik.

Samsung will face Goyang Sono in an away game at the Goyang Sono Arena at 7 p.m. on the 30th, as part of the regular season for the 2026~2027 KCC Pro Basketball League.

This match holds special significance for Samsung. A victory would secure a historic achievement: the first nine-game opening winning streak in pro basketball history.

Samsung has not lost a single game since the start of this season. On the 25th, they defeated Daegu Korea Gas Corporation 76-68 in an away match, extending their opening winning streak to eight games. They stand alone at the top of the standings as the only undefeated team among the 10th franchises.

This ties the KBL record for the most consecutive wins from the start of a season. Previously, Wonju Dongbu (now DB) in the 2011~2012 season and Goyang Orions in the 2014~2015 season both achieved eight-game opening winning streaks. However, both teams lost their ninth game and failed to extend their streaks.

If Samsung defeats Sono, they will surpass those two teams and write a new chapter in KBL history with the first-ever nine-game opening winning streak. They would also set the record for the first perfect round (winning all games in the first round) from the start of a season.

There have been a total of 11 instances of a team winning every game in a round in KBL history, but no team has ever won all nine games in the opening first round. That is what makes Samsung's current challenge so special.

Samsung is one of the prestigious clubs representing Korean basketball. Founded in 1978, the franchise has produced numerous stars and, since the launch of the pro league, claimed a combined regular season and championship title in the 2000~2001 season and a championship title in the 2005~2006 season. They also reached the finals as runners-up in the 2016~2017 season.

However, the team subsequently fell into a long period of poor performance. In particular, from the 2021~2022 season through the just-concluded 2025~2026 season, they suffered the humiliation of finishing last for five consecutive seasons.

Last season, they managed only 16 wins and 38 losses, remaining at the bottom among the 10th teams. It was a state that belied their reputation as a prestigious club that once dominated Korean basketball.

The turning point was the change in head coach.

Ahead of this season, Samsung entrusted the helm to Head Coach Kim Sang-sik. Kim is a coach who led Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation (now Jeonggwanjang) to a combined regular season and championship title in the 2022~2023 season.

Since taking over at Samsung, Kim has emphasized teamwork above all else. He sought to inject change into the roster by promoting organized basketball that prioritizes the team over individuals.

Indeed, Samsung has transformed completely. There was no major reinforcement of their roster ahead of this season. In fact, Lee Dae-sung was sidelined with an injury, and Lee Won-seok (military service) was also absent. It was difficult to view their player depth as thick. However, rather than relying on specific players, multiple athletes have contributed evenly in both offense and defense, sustaining their upward momentum.

The most standout player is foreign center Kerem Kanter. Leveraging his excellent scoring ability and dominance in the paint, he leads the team's offense. Kanter has led Samsung to their eight-game opening winning streak, ranking first in league scoring with an average of 26.1 points this season.

The contributions of domestic players are also noteworthy. Veteran guard Han Ho-bin supports the team with stable game management and outside shooting. He is performing well, averaging 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists this season. In particular, his three-point field goal percentage reaches 44.7%.

Lee Gwan-hee also demonstrates a strong presence in both offense and defense based on his rich experience. Second-year player Lee Gyu-tae contributes on both ends with aggressive physical play and outside shooting, while Lee Geun-hwi delivers three-pointers whenever needed. Notably, he hit three three-pointers in the recent game against Korea Gas Corporation. Justin Gutong and Shin Dong-hyuk also inject energy into the team with their high activity levels.

As players fill in for each other's shortcomings, the competitiveness of the entire team has increased. Head Coach Kim Sang-sik also cited the balanced performance of his players as the driving force behind the winning streak.

Now, Samsung's focus turns to their match against Sono. Coincidentally, Sono is an opponent that Samsung has already defeated once this season. That game also featured a dramatic contest.

In their first matchup of the season on the 11th at Seoul Jamsil Student Gymnasium, Samsung secured a thrilling 82-81 comeback victory over Sono. At the time, Samsung trailed by 11 points through the third quarter, and defeat seemed likely. However, they displayed remarkable focus entering the fourth quarter, pursued relentlessly, and completed a dramatic comeback just before the final buzzer.

The game-winner was Kanter. With about six seconds remaining in the game, Kanter hit a go-ahead three-pointer. He had missed all six of his previous three-point attempts, but succeeded on his seventh try at the most critical moment to secure the win for his team. On that day, Kanter recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds, leading Samsung to their first three-game opening winning streak in 23 years.

In this way, Samsung has continued its winning streak by overcoming multiple crises this season. Even when the flow of the game is unfavorable, they do not crumble easily; instead, they demonstrate focus at crucial moments to secure victories.

Samsung, which had remained at the bottom for five consecutive seasons, is shaking up the league landscape in just one season. They have now moved beyond a simple surge and placed a historic record within reach. A team that once desperately needed to escape last place is now challenging for the KBL's first-ever nine-game opening winning streak.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original