JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Only a few have had enough longevity to play in more than five editions of the FIBA Asia Cup and Kim Jongkyu has entered rarified air now that he's seeing action in the 2025 festivities.
The revered Team Korea veteran is now in his sixth appearance in FIBA's flagship event for men's national teams in the continent, and making it all the more impressive is the fact that he's done it in successive fashion.
Now the oldest in this youth-laden team at 34, he's been competing in this event since 2011 in Wuhan, China as part of a squad that took home bronze after downing the Philippines in a thrilling Third-Place Game.
"Definitely not," admitted Kim, who's been playing professionally since 2013, when asked if he ever imagined competing in the tournament as many times as he's done. "But I just tried to do my best every moment."
He was still a wide-eyed 20-year-old during his first Asia Cup experience, learning the ropes from the program's big names such as Taejong Moon (Cameron Stevenson), Oh Se-keun, and Ha Seung-jin, to name a few.
I desperately want to go to the Final in Saudi Arabia.
But as his national team career progressed, he's grown from the one being mentored to becoming a mentor himself, most especially now that Team Korea are in the midst of a shift with the future in mind.
Kim has embraced that role of being an all-knowing sage to the young ones.
"Team Korea is now in a generational transition," he said.
"Our players are still young, but disciplined and with good talent. I am confident that they will be the best in Asia. I am now sharing all my experiences and memories I got from my first moment as a national team player," he added.
His numbers may not be that gaudy, but the 2.07 M (6'9") remains a valuable asset to the men's team not only because of the presence he brings up front but due to his vast experience in the international arena.
That has been evident in the ongoing 2025 Asia Cup, serving as an anchor specifically on defense. And the intangibles he's been providing has enabled the Koreans to reach the Quarter-Finals again.
Kim and the team accomplished as much following a 99-66 dismantling of Guam in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals, where he made his presence felt with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and a pair of blocked shots.
It has also given him a chance to atone for their disappointing showing in the 2022 games in Jakarta, where they finished at sixth after bowing to eventual bronze medalists New Zealand in the Quarter-Finals, 88-78.
Making it even tougher for the team to accept was the fact that they bowed to the same team which they actually beat for the same medal during the 2017 festivities in Beirut, Lebanon by way of an 80-71 result.
That win, though, gave Kim his third Asia Cup bronze, becoming one of Korean hoops' more bemedaled figures as his collection also features other titles from various global meets, including a 2014 Asian Games gold.
No doubt that he has written a career any other basketball player could only dream of, but he wants more. And he wants to get it in this year's Asia Cup as he aspires to make it all the way to the Last Dance.
"As I have said, Team Korea is very young at the moment, but we have the best chemistry and capability. I desperately want to go to the Final in Saudi Arabia," said the Seongnam-born bruiser.
That would be interesting to see if Kim can live the dream.
FIBA