‘The strongest team with 9 consecutive wins in the opening game’ Samsung coach Kim Sang-sik “We will play our own basketball”

Coach Kim Sang-sik of Seoul Samsung, a professional basketball team that transformed a team that was 'last for 10,000 years' into the 'strongest team' in just one season, was hardly perturbed even in the face of great records.

On the 30th, ahead of achieving the first 9 consecutive wins in KBL history, the team dominated the first half at Goyang Sono Arena on the 30th, but when turnovers continued in the second half and they began to collapse rapidly, they did not give any instructions from the bench and just watched the game with their arms folded with expressionless expression.

Coach Kim, who met at the press conference after the game, said, "When turnovers poured in and Sono came after us, I intentionally stayed quiet and didn't say anything. I hoped the players would feel it on their own."

He added, "It is necessary to plan and respond to the opposing team's tactics, but the most important thing is to play our own basketball. I hoped the players would feel that as well."

On this day, Samsung defeated Sono 95-87 in Goyang Sono's home room.

Samsung, which had an eight-game winning streak in the opening game and tied with Wonju Dongbu (currently DB) in the 2011-2012 season and Goyang Orion in the 2014-2015 season, for the longest opening winning streak in league history, made new KBL history with this victory.

Although he set a historic record, Coach Kim started by reflecting.

Coach Kim reflected, "We had a really hard time winning today's game. We made too many mistakes while trying to attack the post, which was Sono's weakness. I think the game went well only after we ordered that we should play the plays we had prepared rather than just exploiting the opponent's weaknesses."

He continued, “Today, there were 19 turnovers, but it actually makes no sense to win,” and pointed out, “This is something we need to point out and reflect on.”

Samsung is writing records that are more like dramas than dramas.

Samsung, a ‘last-place team for 10 years,’ ranked last for five consecutive seasons from the 2021-2022 season to last season, was late in appointing a new coach ahead of this season.

Kerem Kanter, who was previously the second option, became the main player and Chris McCullough joined, but the composition of the domestic team is almost the same.

But a lot has changed. They ranked 1st overall with a field goal success rate of 50.9% and 2nd in the fewest points allowed (average 78.3 points), winning all games in the first round for the first time since the launch of the KBL.

Coach Kim pointed out, “Teamwork and motion offense were the most important.”

He explained, "I think we got this far by finding good opportunities and positions through organic two-man game and movement rather than shooting too hard. If point guard (Han) Hobin plays a two-man game alone, the defense is not dispersed. When Hobin leaves, Justin (Gutang) comes and plays a two-man game, and when Justin leaves, Lee Kwan-hee steps in."

Now, every time Samsung adds a multiplier, the history of Korean professional basketball is rewritten.

Samsung will face Seoul SK at Jamsil Student Gymnasium on the 1st of next month, two days later. SK started the season late and this is their first match.

Coach Kim said, “It may be a funny thing to say, but rather than saying we will win, we will try to play our own game.”