Until last year’s professional basketball All-Star game, LG Yugi-sang was merely a supporting actor. At the time, Yugi-sang attracted attention simply because he was the only rookie to step onto the All-Star Game stage. However, this year, in his second year, he ranked first in the All-Stars, beating Lee Jung-hyun (Sono), the league’s top guard, and the brothers Heo Woong (KCC) and Heo Hoon (KT), who had taken first and second place in the All-Star Game for the past five years. Yoo Yoo-sang received 80,987 votes out of a total of 1,587,999 votes in this All-Star fan vote and 55 out of 185 votes in the player vote, taking first place in both fan and player votes.
In a recent phone interview, Yoo Yu-sang said, “Actually, after the results of the All-Star voting came out, I received a lot of questions asking ‘Do you really feel that you came in first place?’ But when the voting was in full swing, we were on a losing streak, so we didn’t have time to worry about it. We still can’t say we’re in the top six. “The goal is to maintain good momentum and quickly reach a stable level.”
LG, which failed to advance to the championship game despite finishing second in the regular league for two consecutive years until the previous season, traded existing key domestic players Lee Kwan-hee and Lee Jae-do for DB Doo Kyung-min and Sono Jeon Seong-hyun ahead of this season. It was an adventure that greatly shook up the composition of the players. LG started this season with 3 consecutive wins, but then suffered 8 straight losses and fell to 9th place at one point. However, LG had an 8-game winning streak until the DB game on the 29th and succeeded in rebounding to a tie for 4th place as of the 30th. In this day’s game, Yoo Sang-sang made three 3-point shots in the third quarter alone and scored 15 points, leading to a 94-60 victory.
When asked how he felt about becoming a leading player not only on the team but also in the league in just one year, Yoo Yu-sang said, “I think the fans from the first year were very fond of me as many of my older brothers who played on the team for a long time left (to other teams) ahead of this season.” “Last year, I went to the All-Star Game for the first time, and I thought, ‘Wow, I can go to the All-Star Game, too.’ I’m thankful that I came in first place with so many votes. Didn’t the fans log in one by one and vote? “I think I have no choice but to work harder to repay you.”
Yoo Yu-sang, who ran an average of 23 minutes and 34 seconds last season, is running an average of 29 minutes and 25 seconds this season. However, along with the increased popularity and playing time, the opposing team must also endure increased checks. Yu Ki-sang, who set the record for the most 3-point shots (95) made by a professional basketball rookie last season, is tied for 6th in the league with his average number of successful 3-point shots increasing from 1.8 last season to 2.0 this season. However, the 3-point shot success rate is 34.8%, a decrease from last season (42.4%).
The open 3-point chance that came to ‘rookie’ Yugi-sang no longer comes to ‘second-year’ Yugi-sang. Yoo Yu-sang said, “Last year, (the opposing defense) left me alone and went to other (fellow) players for help on defense, but these days, (the opposing defense) doesn’t even let me go beyond the 3-point line. So you always have to jump one or two steps further. “I also practice shooting while thinking about the (opponent’s) defense becoming stronger,” he said.
When asked about the ‘bitter taste’ of being a tough professional, Yoo Yu-sang said, “Athletes shouldn’t be comfortable,” and added, “Right now, the indicators are not good and it may be difficult, but once you get used to it, won’t your perspective on basketball expand? Still, since I showed a good performance in my first year, I can receive this kind of check. If I overcome it and show a better side, my value will also increase. I think of it as a quest (a type of mission given to the protagonist in a role-playing game) that must be completed. “Rather than being stressed, I’m trying harder to find a way (to overcome it).”
During this winning streak, Yu Yu-sang faltered by scoring single digits in three consecutive games. However, Yoo Yu-sang said, “Single-digit scores can happen again at any time. Even if the opportunity does not come to me, I am looking for ways to contribute to the team in other ways. I practice shooting tough shots with two defenders at a time, but for me, when a double team defense comes up, there is another attraction in having a teammate score with a pass. “Rather than just attacking too hard, you have to play smart basketball that saves your teammates when needed,” he said. “Even if you think you have found a way now, as the game goes on, the opponent may figure it out and block you again.” “We need to continue research,” he said.
Yu Yu-sang is also a defender who is recognized by LG coach Cho Sang-hyun, who emphasizes defense as well as attack. Even when the opposing team plays a screen, Yoo Yu-sang chases the player he is in charge of with gritted teeth and rarely allows the opponent a gap. Yoo Yoo-sang said, “The coach always tells (the defensive player) to ‘follow him until the end.’ I also have a lot of control over my opponent, so if an attack fails, I’ll think, ‘Can’t I attack it? The idea is to stick with it like, ‘Then you can’t be included either.’ I think defense is more about the will to follow one step ahead than the technical aspect. “I’m going to try to be more persistent,” he said.
LG will attempt to continue its winning streak against first-place SK at home on the first day of the new year. Yoo Yu-sang said, “We lost 8 games in a row and won 8 games in a row, so I think we are at the starting point. It’s only been 3 rounds. It is too early to be reassured. “If we win 8 games in a row again from now on, I think we can feel a little more at ease then,” he said.
Reporter Lim Bomi [email protected]
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