Even after a long time, the road to the KCC basketball team in the town of KCC Central Research Institute in Mabuk-ri, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, has not changed. It was very exciting to return to the place where I burned my dreams and fighting spirit during my active career, and on the other hand, I had to leave with tears. 스포츠토토
Lee Sang-min (51), who returned as Jeonju KCC coach a year and a half after stepping down as Samsung Thunder coach in professional basketball, was “heart-shaking excitement.” In January 2022, due to poor performance and an incident in the team, he put down the baton of Samsung for eight seasons and barely recovered his tired mind and body, and his return to the home team made his heart pound again.
Lee Sang-min’s return to KCC coach was accomplished in a surprise move. After receiving an offer from KCC manager Jeon Chang-jin, the club’s signature and official announcement were made in a hurry on the 24th of last month when he made his decision after three days of consideration. He said, “I was grateful that the director Jeon comfortably said, ‘Now that you’ve rested enough, let’s have fun here.’
Lee Sang-min is a symbol of KCC, which does not need to be said. He joined Hyundai Electronics, a “master of basketball,” and played for Daejeon Hyundai and Jeonju KCC, leading three championships (1998, 1999, 2004) as the best point guard of the time, and enjoyed fan love enough to win the All-Star popularity vote for nine consecutive seasons.
It was a major event that will remain in professional basketball history when he was unable to be tied as a protective player when he recruited free agent Seo Jang-hoon in 2007 and moved to Samsung as a compensatory player. Although he was shocked at the time, Lee Sang-min became a leading player in a rival club and even served as a coach, so it is a turbulent fate.
“Only rival clubs came and went.” Lee Sang-min, who laughed and said, “I’m doing it,” was busy getting into the team by helping the players prepare for next season. “Although it has changed little by little, most of the accommodations and gyms I used when I was a player are the same, so everything is comfortable,” he said, conveying the feeling of returning to his family.
Lee Sang-min’s return was also greatly loved by KCC Chairman Chung Mong-jin and the owner’s family. The love of basketball, which has been handed down since the late honorary chairman Chung Sang-young died in 2021, was dedicated enough to take care of each player and was even more special for Lee Sang-min, a leading player.
On the 28th of last month, Lee Sang-min visited the late honorary chairman Chung Sang-young near Yongin Gymnasium and offered a “return greeting.” Coach Jeon Chang-jin, who accompanied him, said, “Chairman Chung Mong-jin bowed to oxygen and said, ‘Father, Sang-min brought me back.'”
Coach Lee Sang-min said, “There are people who ask about the difference between Samsung and Samsung, and if it was like the eldest daughter-in-law of a strict family, I feel like I became the youngest daughter-in-law who is really loved here.” In other words, it is a culture in which the superiors take care of the leaders and players and fully support them.
Coach Lee Sang-min said, “I think I’m a failed leader because I didn’t get good reviews as a Samsung coach, but I’ll learn new things under coach Jeon,” adding, “There are six winning banners on the ceiling of the gym, three of which have my own shares.” “Since I went out, three more have been added, and as a coach, my goal is to help the coach and bet one more,” he said.