プロフィール最終更新日:
- 一行紹介
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Who had many twists and turns
- 自己紹介
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Kim Kang-sun, 38, who recently took off her basketball shoes, still had mixed feelings in her voice. After ending her career with more twists and turns than anyone else, Kim said, "I'm still on the court."
Kim Kang-sun was the first captain of the pro basketball team Goyang Sono, which was founded ahead of the 2023-24 season. He became a free agent after the season, but decided to start anew as a coach after ending his 15-year professional career on the 21st.
He made his professional debut in the 2009 KBL Rookie Draft by wearing the Daegu Orions uniform as the eighth pick in the first round. Two years later, the team moved to Goyang and started anew with the Goyang Orions. Then, in 2022, Day One Asset Management took over the team and became the Goyang Carrot Jumper. However, Day One became the center of controversy over financial issues such as delayed payment of special membership fees in the Korea Basketball Association (KBL). At that time, the team caused a reversal of its run to the semifinal playoff, but after the season, the KBL expelled Day One for failing to resolve financial issues.
It was Kim Kang-sun who led the team that went through all these times and lost its nest. As a representative of the team, Kim also appeared at a press conference at the National Assembly last year to take care of unpleasant tasks such as communicating with the media. Since then, Sono International has reached out, and when a new team called "Goyang Sono" was established, the 10-team system has continued. Kim was able to find a smile again. After finishing a season as captain of his founding team, he recently took off his basketball shoes to end his turbulent career.
"I have a lot of bad memories (about the past), so I don't want to mention it separately," Kim said in a telephone interview with this newspaper. He has been through more difficult times than anyone else. "I think an athlete is happiest when he is on the court after all. Rather than thinking about the most memorable moment, it was important that he played basketball until this age," Kim said.
As such, he was determined to extend his career. Even though he was a veteran in his late 30s, he played for an average of 19 minutes or more and played in the main rotation. Kim Kang-sun also said, "I feel relieved. Of course, it's good to continue my career as a player. Nevertheless, I'm grateful that my club gave me such a good opportunity. It was a difficult situation to accept, but this was also the way I wanted to play."
Kim Kang-sun, who confessed that she has a lot of worries, emphasized that she is still on the court. "I have always wanted to coach a player since I was young. Although touching the basketball will decrease, I am not leaving the court. I want to produce better results with the team, coach Kim Seung-ki and the team," he stressed.
Fans who heard about Kim Kang-sun's retirement reportedly delivered many messages to her. "I have received so many messages asking why I am retiring already. I have received so much love since I was in Daegu, but I am always grateful," she said. "I am still agonizing over how I can deliver my sincere message."
Sono will hold Kim Kang-sun's retirement ceremony during the 2024-25 season. "Now I will face my fans in a suit, but I hope you continue to like it. I want to learn a lot and say hello again," Kim said with a smile.