Kim Joo-Sung
How times flies. It could be like a time skip photo that fast forwards to the present day. In Kim Joo-Sung’s place, 1998 seem like a distant past where a skinny 6’9 forward was named to the 1998 South Korean National team that participated in the 1998 FIBA World Championships that were held in Athens.
In a roster filled with future hall of fame players like the great Seo Jang-Hoon, Kang Dong-Hee, Moon Kyeung-Eun and Kim Sung-Chul, Kim was labeled as the next in line. Indeed he was. Out of Chung-Ang university, Kim wasted no time in making his mark in the KBL; winning the 2003 KBL championship and the following season was named MVP for the 2003-2004 season.
Since then, Kim lived to the billing of the next great face of the national team. He bridged the gap of the Seo Jang-Hoon lead years towards the Ha Seung-Jin era where a 2008 Athens qualifying tournament appearance for South Korea has made Kim a legend; 10 years after being named into the national team out of college.
This was a tough season for Kim and his veteran Wonju Dongbu Promy. They just acquired Lee Seung-Jun and after a tremendous 2012 season, everything seems to be looking in order for a Wonju comeback to the KBL finals. Instead, Kim and his veteran squad was off and injured. By February, Wonju limped off to one of their lowest time since Kim joined the fold. By early 2013, mentor and head coach Kang Dong-Hee was arrested for alleged max-fixing.
It was a devastating time for Kim and he admitted that it affected him more than his share of injuries. Kang Dong-Hee is a legend and the first one to take Kim under his guidance for mentoring. Kim lost an older brother figure.
2012 was supposed to be the last for Kim in playing for the national team. 12 years of service seems enough, but when Lee Sang-Beom called up a pool and Kim was on the list, the veteran could not say no. Youngsters like Lee Jong-Hyun and Kim Jong-Kyu looked up to him. How was Kim able to turn it down? He could not. 2013 rolled along and Kim found himself answering the call once more. If South Korea manages to qualify for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Kim stated that he will step aside. “Playing in the world stage is a dream and an honor, but it does not help the team in anyway. The young ones can benefit from playing against the world’s best and it will help Korea’s future.”
Spoken like a true warrior. Kim has battled injuries and his share of challenges, but when a warrior sees that it is time to past on the mantle, dare we gainsay him?
Sakerland 