Secured a starting role immediately upon arriving in Japan... Song Gyo-chang suffers ankle injury after hitting five three-pointers, expected to be out for four weeks

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Song Gyo-chang (30, Osaka Evessa), the Korean forward who secured a starting role from his first season in Japan, has suffered an injury to his right ankle.

Osaka announced on its official club website on the 12th that Song sustained a bone contusion in his right ankle during an away game against Chiba Jets on the 10th. The club estimated that recovery would take approximately four weeks.

Song played for 27 minutes and 57 seconds that day, recording 18 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block. Notably, he made five of his nine three-point shot attempts. He also surpassed his own B.League single-game record for most three-pointers (four), which he set in a game against Altir Chiba on the 9th of last month.

Osaka missed out on victory in overtime on the day Song was injured. Hayato Maki's three-pointer, released just as the fourth quarter ended, tied the score at 93-93, but Osaka managed to add only one point in overtime, ultimately losing 94-106.

Song chose to move to Japan immediately after lifting the championship trophy with Busan KCC. He contributed to KCC's victory in the championship series of the 2025~2026 season, and after reaching an agreement with the club to be designated as a free agent, he signed a one-year contract with Osaka last June. It was his first overseas move since making his professional debut in the 2015~2016 season.

He was already a top-tier forward in the KBL. He received the Skill Development Award in the 2016~2017 season, his second year as a pro, and was named to the All-Defensive Five the following year. He made the Best Five for two consecutive seasons starting from the 2019~2020 season, and won the regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the 2020~2021 season.

Song revealed to a joint press pool after finishing a practice game against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis in Osaka last September that he decided to go overseas because he "wanted to play basketball better."

At the time, Song said, "I have set goals regarding my play. I chose this challenge because I want to get closer to them."

He further emphasized, "Since I was living a stable life and then came to an unfamiliar environment, I consider this a turning point in my life."

Song immediately secured a starting position in Japan as well. He started from the opening game against Kobe Storks on September 26 last month, and played as a starter in 14 of the 15th games up to the Chiba game where he injured his ankle. He averaged 26 minutes and 50 seconds per game, recording 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 steals.

Osaka lost two players who combined for 38 points in the Chiba game. James Palmer Jr., who led the attack alongside Song and recorded a team-high 20 points and eight assists, also suffered an injury to his left calf fascia. The club estimated that Palmer Jr.'s recovery would take approximately three weeks.

Song, who had played every one of the first 15 games since the season opener, missed his first game of the season in an away trip to Toyama Graze on the 12th. Osaka lost 77-91 that day, falling into a 15-game losing streak following their opening game victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original