"I had secretly been hoping for it" — 20% odds hit, first overall pick goes to KT... SK breaks through 7% to land third [Official Announcement]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Suwon KT secured the first overall pick in the 2026 KBL Rookie Draft, overcoming a 20% probability.

The KBL held the team order lottery event for the 2026 KBL Rookie Draft at 2 p.m. on the 9th in the education room on the 5th floor of the KBL Center in Noryang-dong, Seoul.

This lottery was attended by eight teams, excluding Busan KCC (automatic 10th pick), the playoff champion of the 2025-2026 season, and Goyang Sono (automatic 9th pick), the runner-up.

In the first round of the lottery (picks 1 through 4), KT, Ulsan Hyundai Mobis, Daegu Korea Gas Corporation, and Seoul Samsung, which did not advance to the playoffs last season, were each assigned a 20% probability (40 lottery balls). Wonju DB and Seoul SK, who reached the top six, had a 7% probability each (14 lottery balls), while Changwon LG and Anyong Jeonggwan, who made the semifinals, had a 3% probability each (6 lottery balls) as they placed their balls in the machine.

As a result of the draw, KT was the first to pull out the ball for the first pick, securing the joy of obtaining the first overall selection rights. The second pick went to Hyundai Mobis, and SK claimed the third pick by breaking through the slim 7% probability, hitting the jackpot. The fourth pick landed in the hands of Jeonggwan, which had a 3% chance.

Following the subsequent second round of the lottery for the remaining positions, Korea Gas Corporation was confirmed as the fifth pick, DB as the sixth, Samsung as the seventh, and LG as the eighth.

According to the KBL, KT head coach Moon Kyung-un, who captured the luck of the first overall pick, stated, "Given the high probability, I had secretly been hoping for it, but I did not know that we would actually get the first pick." He added, "I am extremely happy. Since we drew the first pick, I think we need to carefully consider things together with the coaching staff and the office until the remaining time of the draft. We will try to carry the good luck of the rookie draft into the regular season as well," sharing his impressions.

Hyundai Mobis head coach Yang Dong-geun, who secured the second pick, said, "I feel great that we got the second pick." He conveyed his resolve by adding, "It will depend on how KT selects, but I will choose carefully to make this an opportunity to elevate the team to the next level."

SK head coach Jeon Hee-cheol, who secured a high pick by breaking through the 7th% probability, said, "It feels like we received a huge gift that makes it possible to select in a high order with a 7% probability, so I am truly happy." He continued, "There are many good players available in the early picks this year, so I think we will be able to select a player our team needs and someone we really wanted to have at this position. We will prove the luck we caught today by delivering good results on the court going forward."

After completing the order lottery, each team will officially select the top rookies who will lead them in the next season at the Seoul Jamsil Student Gymnasium on the 20th. A tryout will be held from 9 a.m. that day, and the main event of the 2026 KBL Rookie Draft will begin at 3 p.m. the same day, kicking off the formal player selections.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original