“It should have been this much originally.”

Kim Jong-gyu (32, DB, center) played an average of 16 minutes and 48 seconds per game until the second round this season, recording only 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. However, after the 3rd round, with an average of 27 minutes and 54 seconds, 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds, the story of ‘Kim Jong-gyu was revived’ began to be heard. Having recently met at the team practice gym in Wonju, Gangwon Province, he emphasized, “The record has just found its place,” and “(the record) needs to come up more.”

Kim Jong-gyu started his professional life after receiving the first overall pick from LG in the 2013 rookie draft. After that, after recording an average of 11.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for 6 years at LG, he obtained qualification as a free agent (FA) and built a new nest in the DB. He was a condition to receive an annual salary of 1.279 billion won in the first year, the highest free agent in the history of professional basketball.

Kim Jong-kyu led the team to first place in the regular league by setting a new career high record in average points (13.3 points) in the 2019-2020 season, which he first met wearing a DB uniform. However, the season ended early due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, so he could not wear the championship ring. 먹튀검증

From the next season, sluggishness came. In the 2020-2021 season, Kim Jong-gyu scored only a single-digit average score (9.8 points) for the first time since his debut. The team ranking also fell to 9th out of 10 teams. Former DB coach Lee Sang-beom, who laid down the baton during this season, scolded Kim Jong-gyu, saying, “I have no intention of ‘learning'” and urged him to work hard, but the result did not change. DB finished 8th last season as well.

Kim Jong-gyu said, “I couldn’t show it (on the court), so that’s what he thought. We have to admit that when a player has not fulfilled his role on the court, any noise is nothing but an excuse,” he said. “It was difficult, but I think it was a process. I felt that I was so grateful to be able to run in a normal condition.”

Even at the beginning of this season, Kim Jong-kyu could not play in good condition due to knee pain. Kim Jong-gyu said, “During the off-season, he thought he had taken all the pain, but at the start of the season, he felt bad again, so he was embarrassed. He shrank as he continued to fall when his condition needed to improve. He missed an easy goal and avoided (the fight) without confidence,” he said. “Now (the pain) has been relieved to some extent.”

While Kim Jong-gyu was suffering from knee pain, DB’s ranking dropped to 9th place (11-18), and Lee eventually resigned from his position. Kim Jong-kyu helped the team win overtime with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks while playing 40 minutes and 6 seconds, the longest this season, in the first game after Lee resigned on the 7th of last month against Hyundai Mobis.

Kim Jong-gyu said, “Of course, my heart was heavy. He wanted to show that he could still do it,” he said. I want to play a big part in helping the team advance to the semifinal playoffs.” DB has recently ignited the competition for the 6th round with 4 consecutive wins.