This article was published in the May 2023 issue of Basket Korea Webzine. The interview was conducted on April 17 at 11:00 a.m. (Link to purchase Basket Korea Webzine)
When we talk about someone who doesn’t give up, we often use the expression ‘ottoman’. This is because no matter how many times they fall, they get back up.
There is a person who describes his basketball life as ‘Ottoman’. It’s Jeon Jeon-su. He is currently training juniors at his alma mater (Myeongji High School). In addition to teaching them the basics, he also teaches them how to face difficulties.
Left-handed offensive guard스포츠토토
After graduating from Myungji High School, Jeon went on to Korea University. With his quickness, offense, and left-handedness, he played alongside Lee Kyu-sub (now a SPOTV commentator) and Lee Jung-rae on the collegiate level.
After graduating from Korea University, he was drafted by Yeosu Gold Bank (now Suwon KT) with the second overall pick in the 2001 KBL Domestic Rookie Draft. He was the first guard in the draft to turn pro. In his rookie season, he played in every regular season game (54), averaging 15.6 points, 3.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 33 minutes and 21 seconds per game. An uncharacteristic performance for a rookie.
I entered the professional ranks with the second overall pick in the 2001 KBL Domestic Rookie Draft.
The team I joined wasn’t financially well off, and I would have been shunned as a rookie, but I was happy because it was a team that gave me a high value of ‘No. 2’, and it was a team with my seniors from Korea University, (current) Joo Yop-yi Hyung (former head coach of Changwon LG) and (Kim) Ki Man-hyung (current head coach of Seoul SK). Above all, I felt strongly that I should be recognized in the pros.
What was the driving force behind entering the pros as the No. 2 pick?
At the beginning of my college career, my biggest role was defense and game management, especially focusing on stopping the opponent’s outside scorers, so my offense wasn’t well-received.
But as time went on, and the draft came around, I remember my coach saying, “You need to be able to play 2-on-2. I spent a lot of time improving my offense, and I showed a good performance in the regular season in my senior year. I think that made a good impression on the officials of the professional clubs. For that reason, I think I was selected as the second pick.
He played well from his first season.
I’m not a genius player like (former commentator Kim) Seung-hyun, so I thought I had to be solid in both defense and offense. I already had a good reputation for my defense, so I focused more on my offense.
Also, we didn’t have any outside players who could score, and coach Jin Hyo-joon said, “You have to be the main scorer.” Also, we had a smart and tricky foreign player named Eric Iverson, so it was easier for me to attack. I think that’s why I showed good performance from my debut season.
Trades and free agency
As mentioned above, Jeon’s team, Goldbank, was not stable. Korea Tender replaced Gold Bank, but Korea Tender’s situation was also unstable.
Korea Tender traded Jeon to Ulsan Mobis (now Ulsan Hyundai Mobis) for cash. While playing for the Mobis, Jeon was traded to the Changwon LG during the 2003-2004 season. He then wore a Seoul SK uniform from the 2004-2005 season.
After his military discharge, he returned to SK, but was traded again to Mobis during the 2007-2008 season. After becoming a free agent, Jeon signed a five-year contract with LG for a total of 265 million won in salary for the 2008-2009 season.
Shortly after his debut season, he was traded to the Mobis.
I had a great first season, and I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to retire here.’ Of course, Korea Tender was a financially strapped team, but I had such a great time with my brothers, and the depth between the players.
When I heard the news that I was traded in that situation, I didn’t expect it. My legs gave out, and all the players cried, including me. I had a lot of resentment towards the club, and I even had insomnia because of the trade. When Mobis (now Ulsan Hyundai Mobis) came to pick me up, I had a strong feeling that I didn’t want to go.
After that, I experienced three trades.
As I gained experience, I realized, ‘This is professionalism,’ but at the same time, I also felt positive, ‘I’m being traded because someone recognizes my value.
You declared free agency after the 2007-2008 season. You wore an LG uniform.
If it wasn’t for (Yang) Dong-geun-i (current coach of the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis), I would have stayed with the Mobis, but Dong-geun-i was about to be discharged from the military, and I thought that if I stayed with him, our positions would overlap.
At Mobis, they said, “We’re going to use you and (Yang) as an offensive guard one-two punch.” But most of the people around me said, “You won’t last long. You’re going to get pushed around.” I was very worried.
That’s when LG contacted me. They used to go to the playoffs a lot, but they didn’t have an advantage over the opposing guards in the playoffs. Of course, they had a great guard named Lee Hyun-min, but he was about to join the military. I think that’s why they recruited me. I also had close brothers at LG, including (current) Joo Yup-yi and Cho Sang-hyun-yi (current head coach of Changwon LG).
The shadow of ‘last’
As a free agent, Jeon was highly regarded by LG. However, he didn’t play well after his free agency. To be more precise, he didn’t show the same offensive power.
In his final season of free agency, he was no longer with LG. He moved to the Goyang Orions (now Day One Sports). The veteran guard did his part, but it wasn’t enough to restore his diminished value. Eventually, he faced the shadow of ‘the end’. He announced his retirement after the 2013-2014 season.
After joining LG as a free agent, he had an uneventful career.