"Basketball is a sport that gives happiness."

This article was published in the February 2024 issue of Basket Korea Webzine. The interview was conducted on January 6, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. (Link to purchase Basket Korea Webzine)  사설 토토사이트

Lee started playing basketball after watching a video of the highlights. He is now improving his skills at the youth club of Jeonggwanjang.
Lee's strength is that he breaks through. He creates opportunities for his teammates by breaking through, or he finishes by himself.
Lee, however, has ups and downs. That's why he has set his 2024 goal to reduce ups and downs.
Lee described basketball as a "sports that gives happiness." He is spreading basketball to his friends.

Please introduce yourself first.
I'm Lee Jun-ki from Gwiin Elementary School. I'm 10 years old. I'm 150 centimeters tall and I'm a forward.

How have you been lately?
I've reduced my basketball practice a little more than usual. I had to focus on my homework. But while attending a youth club, I'm constantly playing ball. I haven't had my school break yet.

How did you start playing basketball?
I watched a basketball highlight video when I was a freshman in elementary school. It was around May 2021, and it was really cool. Especially, it was cool to pass. I don't remember exactly what video it was, but I think it was an NBA video.
After watching the video, I went out and played basketball with my dad. It was so much fun, and I started playing basketball in earnest. At first, I went to a small basketball classroom in my neighborhood, but starting in 2022, I moved to the Jeonggwanjang Youth Club.

What about the style of play?
I'm focusing on breaking through. I also finish with layups. There's no particular reason why I focused on breaking through, but it's the most comfortable and confident play. I'm also good at defense.

Please also explain the pros and cons.
I'm good at physical fighting. I have a pretty good physique. Thanks to constant practice, I have good physical strength.
But my athleticism is normal. And I have to supplement my speed and pass. To pass well, I have to broaden my horizons. Keep your head up, and try to dribble.

Since joining Jeonggwanjang, has your basketball skills improved a lot?
Jeonggwanjang gave me a little more detail than before. He even told me the location of the dribbling hand in detail. I think that's why he has improved a lot in breaking through and shooting.
I've had a few contests. But I was disappointed with my performance. I got around 50 percent of the time. (Why?) I was out of sync with my teammates, or I had a rather low field goal success rate.

What was your role in the competition?
After breaking through, they make shooting opportunities for players on the outside, or they finish it themselves. And they try to block the opponent's fastball well, but it wasn't easy. Also, they tried to backcoat quickly when the opponent was catching the ball.

What are you going to do in the 2024 season?
I want to participate in more competitions and gain more experience. I want to increase my practice and succeed in various skills. I also want to score as many points as possible. I want to score an average of 10 points per game. I also need to reduce my ups and downs.
As a team, you have to pass fast and smoothly. You have to communicate more actively with the players. You have to work better together. To do so, you have to improve your team's practice, too.

What kind of player is your role model?
Nikola Jokic (NBA Denver Nuggets) is a role model. She's a tall player, but she's perfect in everything from pass to back down to breakthrough. Whenever I saw a basketball highlight or a video of a game, it stood out. If I could emulate one of Jokic's various abilities, I'd like to have a pass.

What is basketball to Lee Jun-ki?
Basketball is a sport that gives happiness. It's fun to play and I feel proud when I practice. I also play swimming and ice hockey, but basketball is the most fun. It's very catchy.
And even when I score, become skillful, or when my team is performing well, I can feel that I have improved. I feel proud of myself. I have even recommended this to friends who don't know how to play basketball.

Please let me know your future goals as well.
I want to participate in more competitions and gain experience. As I think, I hope everything goes well.