Changwon LG is a team with the most solid roster in the KBL. There is no clear ace, but anyone on the entry list can do their job on the court.
The roster is so strong that every moment and every game is a competition. Competition is natural in professional sports, but it is difficult to find a team as fierce as LG. Among them, positions 2 and 3 do not have a clear starter or bench.
In this process, Seungwoo Lee was locked in LG’s treasure chest for a long time. The top rookie who was trusted under Cho Seong-won’s system was quickly forgotten under Cho Sang-hyeon’s system. 지울프-토토
Seungwoo Lee participated in 41 games in the 2021-22 season, when he was a rookie, averaging 7.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 21 minutes and 24 seconds. A top all-around player since his freshman year in college, he perfectly performed the various roles that coach Seong-won Cho wanted.
The highlight was the Samsung match in Seoul on February 12, 2022. Seungwoo Lee played the full 40 minutes and showed a triple-double performance with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
If the evaluation of versatility was a light, there was also a shadow. Insufficient shooting ability and poor understanding of defense were the hindrances. After coach Cho Sung-won left and coach Cho Sang-hyun came, LG became a defense-oriented team. In other words, if your understanding of defense was poor, it was difficult to get playing time. Seungwoo Lee faced his biggest crisis here.
Seungwoo Lee played an average of 15 minutes and 22 seconds in 25 games in the 2022-23 season. His numbers are down significantly from his rookie year. However, he did not receive further opportunities in the 2023-24 season, appearing in only 4 games as of 2023. The position he had to stand in was bound to become narrow as existing players Lee Kwan-hee, Justin Gutang, and Yoon Won-sang were joined by newcomer Yoo Yu-sang.
In addition, Coach Cho Sang-hyun emphasized that Lee Seung-woo’s shooting and defense must be improved. Although he acknowledged his talent, he ultimately said he would need to work on his weaknesses if he was to play for the first team.
Lee Seung-woo was the best in the D-League. He recorded 28 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals, including 3 3-pointers, in the match against Sangmu on the 4th, achieving his second triple-double (based on D League). He then joined the first team again and took the opportunity in the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis match.
Seungwoo Lee recorded 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks in 10 minutes and 40 seconds. His double-digit scoring was 426 days since the Daegu Korea Gas Corporation game (10 points) on November 6, 2022. Hyundai Mobis, which did not expect his performance, was greatly embarrassed and eventually collapsed. LG was also able to change the atmosphere thanks to Lee Seung-woo, who appeared on the brink of two consecutive losses.
In a phone interview with MK Sports, Seungwoo Lee said, “I can’t even remember the last time I played in a game for more than 10 minutes (laughter). It seems really old. I was still preparing. From (Lee) Kwan-hee to (Jung) Hee-jae and (Han) Sang-hyuk, they advised me that it is important to prepare to seize the opportunity because it will come one day. “It was hard physically and mentally, but I endured it and the day like the Hyundai Mobis match came,” he said.
He continued, “It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t disappointed that the opportunity didn’t come. It is true that I was lacking that much. So I was able to become more toxic. I think that if he shows himself helpful to LG, his playing time will naturally increase. “Right now, I’m just trying to think about what I can do,” he added.
Seungwoo Lee is a smart player. He was smart in his play, but more than anything, he knew exactly what coach Cho Sang-hyun wanted. He said, “Internal competition is important, but in the end, I have to know what I should do. (Cho Sang-hyun) I believe that if I know what the coach wants from me and can achieve it on the court, coexistence, not competition, is possible. There are many ways. In the end, it’s up to me. “I have to improve my strengths and play the basketball that the coach pursues in order to increase my playing time,” he said.
This is Seungwoo Lee, who had a happy day. When he stood on the court, Changwon fans welcomed him with great cheers. He was happier than anyone else about the return of a forgotten prospect to the court. Lee Seung-woo said he was moved to tears when he saw those fans.
Seungwoo Lee said, “When I was replaced and entered the court, so many people applauded. I was moved to tears at that time. And he was sorry. He didn’t play well… . I really received a lot of support. He had fans who believed in him and said he was fine even when he left work. Because of people like that, I think I can keep running without giving up. From now on it starts again. There are many more days ahead and I can show a better side. “It’s more important from now on,” he said.
Seungwoo Lee also delivered a special message. He showed his gratitude to his D-League colleagues he had been with for a long time. He said, “Beginning with a triple-double in the D-League, good things have continued to happen. There may be things I did well, but I wouldn’t have been able to achieve it without the help of my colleagues. Is that why? I think of my D-League teammates who I have been with for a long time. We are working hard behind the scenes. “I hope we all do well,” he said.
Lastly, Seung-Woo Lee said, “For me, all the time I spend as a professional is always meaningful and helpful. However, there is no guarantee that it will work out well. I also think that difficult times come to everyone. There were many difficult times, but I think I gained strength after the Hyundai Mobis game. “I will continue to run without giving up,” he pledged.