Lee Hyun-joong, 7 points and 9 rebounds in NBA G-League debut
Lee Hyun-joong (22, 202 cm), who is challenging to advance to the NBA, had a smooth debut in the G-League under the NBA.
Lee Hyun-joong, a member of the Santa Cruz Warriors, played about 19 minutes in the 2022-2023 season G-League match against Austin Spurs held at the Kaiser Permanent Arena in Santa Cruz, California, USA on the 23rd (Korean time) and recorded 7 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. .
The team won 126-105.
Lee Hyeon-joong struggled to get a zero point in the early stages, and attempted 5 3-point shots, only one of which was successful. He made 2 of his 10 field goal attempts.
Wearing uniform number 28, Lee Hyeon-joong was put on the court with 6 minutes and 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter. It was the first time on the court after signing with Santa Cruz under the Golden State Warriors on the 20th.
It is the fourth time in history that a Korean player has played in an NBA lower league game, following Ha Seung-jin, Bang Seong-yoon (retired), and Lee Dae-seong (Korea Gas Corporation).
Lee Hyun-joong finished his third year at Davidson University, which produced NBA star Stephen Curry (Golden State), and entered the NBA draft last year, but was not nominated due to bad news of injury.
He suffered an injury to the vertebrae and ligaments in his foot about two weeks before the draft that put him on the operating table. After returning to Korea and undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation program for half a year, he returned to the United States last January.
Since Lee Hyun-joong is taller than 200 cm and has a very clear shooting advantage, there are many who believe that he has a chance to advance to the NBA, even considering that he is a relatively inferior Asian player in terms of physical condition and athletic ability.
Previously, Hyunjoong Lee had established himself as the first option for attack in the national team.
Lee Hyun-joong’s management, A2G, previously explained, “Lee Hyun-joong’s physical condition has completely recovered. He has completed professional basketball and conditioning training in the United States for a month to prepare for his comeback.”
Lee Hyun-joong said, “I am very happy and honored to have the opportunity to play on the court again. As I joined the team in the middle of the season, I will adapt quickly to the team and the system and become an indispensable player.” 스포츠토토