Busan KCC struggle in KBL after preseason glory

Basketball

Published: 21 Nov. 2023, 15:07 Updated: 21 Nov. 2023, 20:52

Busan KCC struggle in KBL after preseason glory

Busan KCC Egis' Alize Johnson in action during a KBL game against the Seoul Samsung Thundersat at Sajik Gymnasium in Busan on Oct. 22. [YONHAP]

Busan KCC Egis are struggling in the KBL despite predictions by multiple head coaches that the Busan side would be a favorite to win the 2023-24 league title.

KCC have secured only three wins in their first nine league games and sit in eighth place on the 10-team table as of Tuesday.

KCC Egis leave Jeonju for Busan as stadium woes continue

Their struggle is a stark contrast to their performance at the KBL Cup in October when they won the tournament for the very first time.

That dominant performance led seven out of 10 KBL head coaches to pick KCC as a strong title contender for the 2023-24 season, but the Busan team has not been able to show their best yet.

After securing a 91-79 win against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus on Nov. 3, KCC have recorded a four-game losing streak from Nov. 7 through Nov. 14.

The Busan side briefly bounced back with a 78-69 victory over Goyang Sono Skygunners on Friday but suffered an 84-74 loss to defending champions Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters on Sunday.

KCC Head coach Jeon Chang-jin said ahead of the game on Sunday that the team’s lack of cohesion is the main reason behind the struggle.

New signee Choi Jun-yong displayed a good performance during practice games in the summer, but he has not had much time to build a rhythm with teammates Ra Gu-na and Lee Seung-hyun, as the two competed in the Hangzhou Asian Games that ended early last month.

The three players were also unable to play together in the first few games as Choi was injured until he returned to the court on Nov. 12.

Another new signee Alize Johnson has also not shown his best performance, despite being named MVP of the KBL Cup.

Johnson is the team’s top scorer, but he has only scored 164 points in nine games, well behind current top scorer Dedric Lawson of Wonju DB Promy with 311.

Other KCC players have not been so prolific either, with the team’s second highest scorer Heo Ung having only managed 126.

This season may end like last season for KCC, who finished in sixth place, if they do not bounce back.

KCC have won the league title five times and championship eight times, with their last league title in 2021.

The team, formerly known as Jeonju KCC Egis, was renamed Busan KCC Egis this summer after moving from Jeonju, North Jeolla to Busan this summer.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]