"Super Team". The least shining star in KCC? Lee Seung Hyun is the winner
"Top Tiger" Lee Seung-hyun (32, 1m97cm) is waiting for the championship match at the KCC in Busan. In the "Super Team" KCC, which is composed of national team players, Lee Seung-hyun is the one who uses the ball more than anyone else, although not flashy.
KCC defeated Wonju DB 80-63 in the fourth round of the 2023-24 Professional Basketball semifinal playoff (PO) held at Sajik Gymnasium in Busan on the 21st to advance to the championship game with a total of three wins and one loss in the series. The opponent they will meet in the championship match is the winner of the semifinal PO between Changwon LG and Suwon KT.
KCC's nickname "super team" is not too much. It recruited Choi Jun-yong, a free agent, this season, and Song returned after being discharged from the military early in the season. Also, the existing Korean players, including Ra Gun-ah, Heo Woong, and Lee Seung-hyun, are all national team players.
However, KCC's reputation as a favorite was shaken in the regular league. Big stars' team play did not go smoothly, and injuries continued during bad times.
There was a twist in the PO. KCC have become a completely different team and have regained their status as a 'super team.' Ra Gun-ah is showing off her presence under the basket to the extent that she is evaluated as a 'rejuvenation,' and the star players accepted her reduced playing time and performed sacrifice plays that melted into the rotation system. After winning three consecutive games against Seoul SK in the PO, KCC defeated the regular league champion DB in the semifinals.
Lee Seung-hyun is not the most brilliant player in this Super Team. Unlike Ra Gun-ah and Choi Jun-yong, who displayed explosive play that instantly changes the flow of games in short-term games, Lee spent less time playing and saw his major records, including scoring and rebounding, decrease compared to the regular season league. Lee averaged 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 24 minutes in the regular season league, but his average fell to 5.2 points in 17 minutes in PO. However, despite shorter playing time, he saw his rebound (4) increase slightly.
KCC coach Jeon Chang-jin mentioned Lee Seung-hyun separately after confirming the win and praised him, "He doesn't play much, but he contributes a lot."
When he was a member of Goyang Orion (currently Goyang Sono), Lee displayed stellar performance, scoring double-digit points and dominating the game. However, after moving to KCC, he has been sacrificing himself and taking on dirty work of position and defense.
Both LG and KT, where KCC will face off in the championship match, have strong foreign powerhouses. LG's Asem Marei is smart in under-the-basketball play and has the ability to control the under-the-basketball to the extent that he is called a "reboundary machine." KT's Paris Bath boasts of terrifying scoring ability that even gets the nickname "ecological disturbance species" by referencing its name.
To prevent them, the most important thing is that Ra Gun-ah and Lee Seung-hyun of KCC are good at rear defense. They deserve to be considered a key point in KCC's championship game. Lee displayed impressive defense against DB in the semi-final against Didrick Lawson, MVP of the regular league.
Lee Seung-hyun advanced to the championship for the first time in eight years after winning the Orion Championship in the 2015-16 season. He said, "It has a special meaning. He is trying to do better in supporting roles because the team has many good players. He said, "I will improve my performance further." He added, "All the players are full of confidence. I will do my best no matter who comes up."