Kim Ji-wan (32, 190 cm) has been given the task of filling the roster void.
The Ulsan Hyundai Mobis have been groaning with injuries since the beginning of the season. Park Mubin, the second overall pick in this year’s KBL Rookie Draft, suffered an ankle injury, and Signe Jin suffered a major knee injury against Goyang Sono on Nov. 29. With a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, Signeon-jin will have to undergo surgery and is effectively out for the season.
This puts even more pressure on the shoulders of Lee Woo-seok, Kim Tae-wan, and the rest of the team. Kim Ji-wan will also have to step up. After joining Hyundai Mobis this offseason, Kim averaged just 8 minutes and 43 seconds in the opening three games. He was a helper as the younger players were the mainstays.
However, Kim Ji-wan is expected to be given a role as signees are sidelined with injuries. “I think Kim Ji-wan will have to fill the void left by Signing Jin,” Hyundai Mobis head coach Cho Dong-hyun said before the team’s first-round matchup against Anyang Jeonggwanjang in the 2023-2024 Jeonggwanjang Pro Basketball League at Anyang Gymnasium on Nov. 31.
Kim finished with six points, one rebound, and two assists in 14 minutes and 31 seconds against Jeong Kwanjang. It wasn’t a stellar performance, but it gave the main players plenty of time to rest. Hyundai Mobis, led by Kebe Aluma, went on to win 86-75 and earned their fourth win of the season.
After the game, Kim Ji-wan said, “I hadn’t played much since the start of the season, so I was feeling down. Even when I was on the court, I was deferring to my teammates instead of playing aggressively. Coach (Cho Dong-hyun) told me to be active with the ball from today (31st). I didn’t score many points, but I tried to take a lot of attacks. It’s urgent that our performance improves.”
Hyundai Mobis is currently ranked second in the standings with a 4-1 record, behind Wonju DB (4-0). The team is building a stable 토토사이트 offense, so if Kim Ji-wan can continue to push a little harder up front, they can stay at the top of the standings.
“We’ve had some injuries up front, but our team is able to step in and do their job,” said Kim Ji-wan. That’s the strength of our team. We have a lot of injured players, so I think the atmosphere is a little bit down, but the remaining players have to do their best. I think there will definitely be a good result.”