"I'm looking forward to entering the NBA

Lee Hyun-joong (23, Evesa Osaka) received a pleasant compliment from a senior official of his new team.

Osaka Evesa, the first division of Japanese professional basketball, announced on March 19 that it had agreed to a contract with Lee Hyun-joong for the remaining 18 games of the 2023-24 regular season.

"He is a young player representing Korean basketball who is 201 centimeters tall with accurate shooting ability and overflowing fighting spirit. He made it 50-40-90 when he was a member of the NCAA Division I," said Yuta Kuroki (34), general manager of Evesa Osaka.

The 50-40-90 club must meet ▲ 50% field goal success rate ▲ 40% three-point accuracy ▲ 90% free throw success rate. Lee Hyun-joong recorded the highest three-point accuracy in a single season in the 2020-21 NCAA Division I with 44.2%.

"Joining the 50-40-90 club is proof that he is a top shooter. I expect that Lee Hyun-joong will become the second NBA player in the history of the Korean pro basketball league," Utah General Manager Kuroki said.

From 2004 to 2006, Ha Seung-jin played an average of 6.9 minutes, 1.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2 points with a success rate of 51.9 percent in 46 games for the Portland Trail Blazers, the first and last Korean NBA footprints.

Lee Hyun-joong challenged to enter the NBA based on the 2021-22 U.S. College Basketball First Division A10 Conference Best 5 selection, but he injured his left instep bone and ligament during a workout a week before the rookie draft.

However, since then, he has not stopped challenging himself, including ▲ 2022-23 NBA G League (Minor League) Santa Cruz Warriors ▲ 2023 NBA Summer League Philadelphia 76ers ▲ 2023-24 Australian professional basketball NBL Illawarra Hawks.

Australia is a basketball powerhouse ranked fifth in the world. During his debut season in the NBL, Lee had an average of 17.4 minutes, 7.4 points, and 3.9 rebounds in 27 games. As evidenced by his performance of 15.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 36 minutes, he has demonstrated his strength combined with offense and height.

His shooting accuracy is also positive, with 2 points at 53.1 percent and 3 points at 40.0 percent. "I've been keeping an eye on Lee Hyun-joong for a long time," Utah general manager Kuroki said. "When I come to Evesa in Osaka after finishing my Australian tour, I will play nearly 20 more games, and I will be able to maintain and develop my sense of humor." explained the reason and process of recruitment.

Lee Hyun-joong greeted the Ryukyu Golden Kings on March 20 with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block in the first division of the Japanese professional basketball league, which was played in the 26th round of Evesa, Osaka, on March 20.

The success rate of shooting was 2 points, 86 percent, 3 percent, 38 percent, and 75 percent of free throws. Evesa Osaka will have an away game against the Shinshu Brave Warriors from 2:05 p.m. on Sunday.

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