The KBL awards ceremony was a mixture of jubilation and disappointment. Goyang Sono ‘Super Ace’ Lee Jung-hyun (25) had the best time this season. The 25-year-old won five awards, making him the star of the KBL Awards. However, there were some disappointments. He missed out on the top prize, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Lee took home five awards at the 2023-2024 Korean Basketball League (KBL) Awards Ceremony held at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on Monday. He won the Player of the Year award and the Best 5 in the metric categories of assists, 텍사스홀덤사이트 steals, and 3-pointers.
To earn the most awards, Lee had an extraordinary season. In 44 regular-season games this season, he averaged 22.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 2 steals per game, while also making 2.9 three-pointers per game. Naturally, he was in the MVP conversation. However, Lee Jung-hyun didn’t win the MVP award. Wonju DB Lee Sun Albano took home the MVP award after receiving 50 of the 111 votes cast by the journalists. The Asian quarterback averaged 15.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 54 games this season. Second place went to “DB Captain” Kang Sang-jae, who received 47 votes. Lee Jung-hyun received fewer votes.
Obviously, team performance had a big impact. SONO finished eighth in the league and failed to make the playoffs. Albano and Kang Sang-jae, on the other hand, led DB to their seventh regular season title in franchise history.
Lee Jung-hyun felt both the joy of winning five titles and the disappointment of missing out on the MVP. “Actually, I have a little bit of both,” he said. But I think the MVP should go to the winning team, DB. Albano also had a great season, so I want to congratulate him.” “I’m honored to receive so many awards. I hope he works hard and prepares well and does well next season, so he can be nominated for MVP.”
“I expected the personal record award because it was already written about. But I didn’t expect the other awards. It was a disappointing season for me, even though the team finished last and I had good personal records. I think I won a lot of awards because I worked hard,” she said, adding, “Assists is the most special (of the five awards). I tried to switch to point guard from last year, and I learned from coach Kim Seung-ki when he scolded me. This season, you won the assist award, which is a point guard’s virtue. I think I succeeded in changing my position,” he said.
As for the assist award, Lee Jung-hyun took first place with a storm of assists in the final game of the regular season. Lee recorded nine assists against Suwon KT on March 31st. That helped him pull off a thrilling upset over rival Albano.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. This season, Lee battled through an early-season slump and a mid-season long-term injury, but it was the way he bounced back that made it all the more meaningful. “It was a great season in terms of performance, despite the ups and downs. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t win many matches, but it’s meaningful to have a season without ups and downs. I had a month off due to a major injury, but I grew from it,” he reflected.
“I was worried (about the long-term injury). It was scary and scary because it was my first time, and I was afraid, ‘Will I be able to do well when I come back,’ but my trainer managed it well and I rested well. My rehabilitation was great and I didn’t have any side effects afterward. It didn’t take me long to find my form. I was able to finish the rest of the tournament injury-free,” he explained.
Lee Jung-hyun, who was nominated for the MVP award but also won the Player Development Award, said, “The two awards feel different,” but added, “I think being nominated for both awards shows that I’ve improved my game and gotten closer to the MVP level. Next season, we will maintain this record and enter the playoffs with a good team performance. I hope to be nominated for MVP again,” said Lee.
Lee Jung-hyun also received a nice prize for winning five titles. “It feels good to receive the same amount of money as the MVP. I think five trophies are more valuable and feel good. I will think about what to spend the prize money on next,” he added.