KBL changes foreign player quota system... Up to 2 players allowed to play simultaneously in the 2nd and 3rd quarters

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Tae-yong = 2026-2027 The biggest change in KCC professional basketball is the change in the system so that a maximum of two foreign players for each team can play simultaneously in the second and third quarters.

KBL has made several changes to the foreign player system since the launch of professional basketball.

Two foreign players played simultaneously in the 2nd and 3rd quarters in the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 seasons.

At that time, foreign players were selected based on height, with tall and short players.

However, the height limit has since been abolished, and in the new season, each team can field up to two foreign players in the second and third quarters.

Accordingly, each team is struggling to come up with a plan to change the game by deploying players suited to their tactics in the second and third quarters.

The team with foreign players who stood out in the exhibition game held from the 24th to the 27th is Wonju DB.

DB reinforced Henry Ellenson, whose skills were proven last season, and Rayson Hammonds, who played for Ulsan Hyundai Mobis.

Here, Ethan Albano, an Asian quarter player with explosive scoring ability, is holding on.

DB recorded 100 points in both exhibition games and won 2 times.

Goyang Sono, which created a sensation by advancing to the championship game last season, recruited Scotty James (202cm, 108kg) and Johnny O'Bryant from the National Basketball Association (NBA).

James has a good ability to penetrate under the goal, and O'Bryant has strengths in outside shooting, so they are considered suitable for the 'spacing basketball' pursued by coach Sono Son Chang-hwan.

Anyang Jeonggwanjang made up foreign players with traditional center John Mooney, who has the ability to dominate rebounds and is good at defense, and Rashawn Thomas, who has good scoring ability inside and outside.

Adding to this, Asian quarter player Lens Abando is evaluated as having the potential to challenge for the top spot.

KCC, the team that won the championship game last season, is concerned about its strength weakening as key members Choi Jun-yong and Song Kyo-chang leave the team.

Attention is drawn to whether KCC, which newly recruited Louis King and paired him with Sean Long, will be able to maintain the strength of last season.

Suwon KT's Paris Bass and Hyundai Mobis' Gage Prim are returning and are looking forward to the new season.

In the new season, the performance of veteran domestic players who entered the free agent market and changed their uniforms is also of interest.

Shooter Jeon Seong-hyeon, who played for Cheongkwanjang last season, moved to KT.

Jeon Seong-hyun, who played as a representative KBL shooter through Sono and LG, had his worst season last season, scoring an average of 2.7 points due to injury, but pledged to regain his honor with his new team.

Heo Il-young, the oldest active player at 40 years old, transferred from LG to CheongKwanJang ahead of this season.

Heo Il-young, who earned the nickname 'winning contractor' by contributing to the championships of Orion in the 2015-2016 season, Seoul SK in the 2021-2022 season, and LG in the 2024-2025 season, will put on the uniform of Jeong Kwan-jang and take on the challenge of the summit.

Heo Il-young was released as a free agent, but joins forces with Byun Jun-hyung, who renewed his contract with Cheong Kwan-jang.