My body has changed and my mind has also changed. It seems that no one calls him a ‘lazy genius’ anymore.
Goyang Carrot Lee Jong-hyeon (29) has been attracting attention as Korea’s next-generation center after Seo Jang-hoon and Kim Joo-seong since his college days. However, he seemed to be forgotten in the professional world without ever realizing his dream due to a fatal Achilles tendon rupture in the 2018 season.
Although the result of his surgery was successful, the trauma of his injury was not a problem solved by medical technology. Lee Jong-hyun’s position is center. In order to survive as a center, rough physical fights with foreign players are basic. However, the injury trauma made me avoid physical fights and made me play passively. So he began to decline in every way. Six years after his professional debut, he was not growing as much as expected and was being evaluated as a ‘lazy genius’.
However, he changed after meeting director Kim Seung-gi. Coach Kim Seung-gi is a coach with a deep understanding of player development, and produced many good players during his time at Anyang KGC. But his teachings are harsh. Even at the beginning of the season, I could often see him calling out to Jonghyun Lee during a game and shouting loudly. Being treated like that in front of rookie players can make morale go down, but Lee Jong-hyun was different. Rather, he was grateful for the opportunity given to him. On his court, he was out of breath and constantly sweating, and he did his best to backcourt even when it was difficult. Lee Jong-hyun’s expression was bright and his eyes overflowed with determination. 슬롯사이트
In the 2022-2023 SKT A-Dot Pro Basketball match against Daegu Korea Gas Corporation held at the Goyang Gymnasium in Gyeonggi-do on the 9th, Lee Jong-hyun ran the court for 21 minutes and 2 seconds, scoring 8 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block shot. Even though his score seemed small, he actively participated in defense and played the role of a screener in attack, helping the team to play organically. Carrot, who has many good shooters such as Jeon Seong-hyun and Lee Jung-hyun, is greatly encouraged by Lee Jong-hyun’s invisible play.
At the beginning of the season, coach Kim Seung-gi said, “Lee Jong-hyun came in as the No. 1 professional. Next year, he will become a free agent. This year, one year is the time to decide his life. I want that friend to succeed, so I am teaching him rigorously now. If it is not this year, there is no chance. Body I’m not in good condition, so I’m working hard with the thought of showing something this season and signing a contract for a few more years.”
He is now starting to receive recognition from director Kim Seung-gi. After winning 87-76 in the 4th round home game against Daegu Korea Gas Corporation, coach Kim Seung-gi praised the team first, saying, “Lee Jong-hyun did well while winning 3 consecutive victories.”
Lee Jong-hyun is no longer a ‘lazy genius’.