Lee Hyunjung: "I'm just going to do whatever it takes to win"

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MIES (Switzerland) – This summer has been eventful for both Team Korea and personally for their star small forward.

Hyunjung Lee was conspicuous by his absence in Korea’s make-or-break Window 3 of the World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers after starring in the first two windows.

Pursuing his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA, the sharpshooter was with the San Antonio Spurs in the Summer League, hoping to impress enough for a full-fledged contract.

While Lee was away, his country colleagues were able to Step It Up when it mattered the most, beating Japan 81-79 to secure their Second Round seat.

Now with Lee back, Korea will be eager to rewind to a more dominant version of themselves, the kind that eclipsed China twice in Window 1.

In the upcoming Window 4, Korea will have Lebanon and Saudi Arabia to contend with.

But confidence will be high after the homecoming of their talisman.

Showing up for Korea

Admitting it was a hard decision to step away from the national team, Lee emphasized how it was perhaps his “last chance” to breakthrough in the Association.

“I always have a strong desire to play for the national team. I know how much of an honor it is to represent my country. Even so, this time I felt that chasing my dream was the right decision. I came here with the mindset that this could be my last chance,” Lee told Jumpball.

“Beating Japan was obviously huge, but more than that, I think the players grew a lot. It wasn't just me growing while I was away at Summer League - it feels like we all grew together, and that makes me happy,” Lee said during an August 3 media interaction covered by Yonhap News Agency.

Lee's impact in Windows 1 and 2

Historic!

Hyunjung Lee shatters World Cup Qualifiers' three-point record

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In Windows 1 and 2, Lee led Korea in points (24.8), rebounds (nearly 10 a game) and overall efficiency (a whopping +26.5). Even though he missed Window 3, his presence earned him a spot on the First Round's All-Star Five.

Nowhere was his impact felt bigger than in Window 1, when the 200 cm / 6'7" winger scorched China for a record 9 threes, catapulting Korea to a historic upset that would be repeated three nights later.

Despite these Herculean efforts, Korea subsequently dropped both their Window 2 games to ultimately progress to the Second Round with a 3-3 record, behind Japan.

Humility and hunger

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It doesn't matter how many points I score. The goal is to win.

Lee's reinstatement for the Second Round alone is no guarantee of success, as evidenced by Korea's recent back-to-back preparatory games losses to Japan.

Opponents will be wiser, coverage will be tighter, and Lee may find less floor and airspace to launch his now well-monitored long-range missiles.

But having returned from his NBA stint "humbler", Lee is unconcerned about his personal production, as long as the larger objective of Korea’s World Cup 2027 progression is achieved.

Who is playing this window?

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"Like I always say, I don't really care how many points I score. I'm just going to do whatever it takes to win," Lee said, in what will be a particularly busy period for Asian Basketball with both the World Cup Qualifiers and Asian Games coming up.

"The Summer League experience definitely humbled me a lot, and it also helped me realize that there are still so many different areas where I can improve. It made me more humble, but at the same time, it made me even hungrier for basketball and strengthened my desire to win," Lee said.

That same special sauce of humility and hunger which makes Lee one of Asia’s most dangerous team players, is what Korea will be counting on, come tip-off against Lebanon on August 27.

West Asia's physicality

Elaborating on the unique challenges in front of them, Lee said:

"I've always thought West Asian teams are tough opponents to play against. One of the biggest things for us is that we can’t get pushed around in terms of rebounding or physicality. We’re also playing on the road, so there’s the time difference to deal with, and the fans in the Middle East are extremely passionate."

Recognising that they are playing under a foreign head coach, Lee intends to be more vocal, and shoulder greater responsibility as a leader on a team with quite a few youngsters.

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Compared with some of the West Asian teams, our big men are a little undersized.

One of the key takeaways from his short NBA stint has been the need to contribute more on the defensive side of the ball.

"We have a lot of very talented guards and wings, but compared with some of the West Asian teams, our big men are a little undersized. That means I need to do more to help the team with rebounding and physicality. Defensively, I also need to do a better job when we switch," Lee said.

Hyunjung's career consistency

Dating back to 2021 when he made his senior FIBA debut, Lee has been clinically efficient while also scoring and rebounding at a high clip. Still only 25-years-old, expect his statline to further improve as he enters his peak.

FIBA