Despite being called up from the national team, Kim Jong-kyu was in top form.
Wonju DB picked up their first win of the 2023 MG SaeMaeGold KBL Cup on Tuesday, 96-84, against Sangmu in Group A qualifying at 온라인카지노 Wolmyeong Gymnasium in Gunsan.
Kim Jong-kyu has only been back with the team for two days, having returned home seven days ago from the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games. While most of the national team was resting, Jong-gyu played in the first game of the cup tournament.
“To prepare for the Asian Games, I worked nonstop on rehabilitation as soon as my vacation started. I wanted my knee to be fine as soon as possible. Even before the end of the season, I wanted to show a good performance because it could be my last Asian Games (if I make the national team),” he said. “I kept working out and my body gradually improved. I’m in much better shape now than I was last year,” he said, explaining his physical condition.
Kim Jong-kyu proved his fitness with a 17-point, six-rebound performance in the game. “My teammates prepared a lot during the offseason. (I didn’t get to play with my teammates much (due to my national team call-up). I’m going to approach the season as if it’s already started,” he said.
“I thought he was a guard. (Laughs) He’s a really good scorer and has a lot of range. Even though we didn’t have a lot of chemistry, we were able to work together in the team’s system, and we had a lot of good shots. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the future.”
Kim Jong-kyu also talked about his chemistry with the two foreign players, saying, “(Garrison) Brooks and Lawson have different personalities. When I play with Brooks, I try to give him more space. He needs to play inside rather than outside. With Lawson, I try to be more aggressive under the basket.”
Brooks and Lawson both scored 12 points on the night, joining Jong-kyu Kim in the win.