Professional basketball player Suwon KT opened the ‘Song Young-jin era’.
On the 14th, the KT club announced that “head coach Song Young-jin was appointed as the new manager.” His contract is for 3 years.
KT, who failed to advance to the playoffs by finishing 8th in the regular season in the 2022-2023 season, said goodbye to manager Seo Dong-cheol and chose to improve his constitution by entrusting the baton to new manager Song.
Coach Song, who went through Masan High School and Chung-Ang University, joined Changwon LG with the first overall pick in the 2001 rookie draft and changed to the Busan KTF uniform, the predecessor of KT, in 2005. After retiring as a player in 2015, he coached at KT, Yonsei University, and Whimoon High School, and was called up by KT in May last year to serve as head coach.
Director Song said, “I am grateful to the club for believing in me and giving me a chance. I will do my best to live up to expectations.”
KT is a young and resource-rich team full of potential, including Yang Hong-seok, Ha Yoon-ki, Lee Doo-won, and Park Ji-won. In the 2023-2024 season, even guard Heo Hoon, who was the best player in the regular league (MVP), will be discharged from the military and return.
Coach Song said, “As was the case when I was a player, I want basketball that takes a lot of activity. I want to emphasize movement when there is no ball, and I want to wear fast basketball that moves a lot.”
He predicted, “If you look at each side of our team’s players, each has its strengths, but its weaknesses are also clear. In the off-season, we will prepare a program that can make up for the weaknesses as much as possible and maximize the strengths.” 메이저놀이터
The biggest talk of the off-season KT is Yang Hong-seok (195 cm), a tall forward who has qualified for free agent (FA). He averaged 12.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 53 regular league games last season. He has excellent speed and scoring ability with his large height, so the value of use is high.
Coach Song said, “The club has the same idea, and it is difficult to find a player with the same size and skills as Yang Hong-seok.
Heo Hoon and Yang Hong-seok, who will return, and Ha Yoon-ki, who has grown into a top-notch big man, can form a powerful triangle formation in the guard, forward, and center positions. Director Song said, “A really good player with many options,” and expected Heo Hoon’s return.
Finally, “It was a season that left a lot of regrets, but now I will try to go through a season where there are no regrets left. I will do my best to support my grades and lead the team to become one.” I will use it. I ask for a lot of support and encouragement.”