Basketball champion’s mother celebrates son’s Asian Games gold as he eyes NBA training camp
Seong Jeong-a praised her son Lee Hyun-jung after he led South Korea to Asian Games men’s basketball gold and noted his upcoming NBA training camp with the Portland Trail Blazers.
South Korea clinched the men’s basketball gold at the Asian Games by defeating Japan 67-57, propelled by forward Lee Hyun-jung’s 27 points, 18 rebounds and team-leading steals. His mother, former women’s national team star Seong Jeong-a, now executive director of the Korea Basketball Association, expressed pride and recounted how Lee’s love for basketball persisted despite her earlier hopes he pursue a different path. Lee, who moved to Australia at 17, attended an international academy and played college basketball at Davidson before signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.
He will travel to the United States for an NBA training camp, a step Seong described with both optimism and concern about the pressures of competing abroad. She emphasized his game-reading skill, relentless work ethic, and drive to improve, while worrying he might burn out. The family looks forward to watching his development on the professional stage.
Why it matters
It showcases South Korea's basketball triumph and a promising player's move toward the NBA, signaling growth in Asian basketball talent.
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