Five years after helming SBS’ "Handsome Tigers", former pro turned TV mainstay Seo Jang-hoon is back on the sidelines as head coach of a new celebrity squad―and he’s clear about the mission: grow the game.
At a press conference at SBS in Mok-dong on the 26th, Seo said he initially had lingering regrets from his 2020 stint on "Handsome Tigers". When the offer to lead "Rising Eagles" came about a year ago, he signed on, hoping the show could push basketball forward while helping his players chase real goals on the court.
"Rising Eagles" follows Seo as he builds a celebrity team from scratch to face top Korean amateur clubs and a Philippine celebrity squad, with a bold target: conquer Asia. Captain MINHO of SHINee leads a lineup that includes 2AM’s Jeong Jin-woon, JOHNNY of NCT, singer Son Tae-jin, actors Oh Seung-hoon, Park Eun-seok and Kim Taek, model Moon Su-in, Lee Dae-hee, home shopping host Park Chan-woong, and 'EXchange 2' alum and influencer Jung Kyu-min.
Looking back, Seo noted that "Handsome Tigers" featured no former players, yet the cast worked relentlessly. This time, he tightened the level of play, recruiting about three members who competed through high school. “Overall, the quality should be higher with "Rising Eagles",” he said, previewing a sharper, more competitive product.
The roster mixes true beginners with hobbyists and ex-players―by design. “We’re up against elite club teams and a Philippine celebrity team, so we needed to balance the squad,” Seo explained. He also made a point to thank his cast for grinding through practices despite packed schedules in their day jobs.
Above all, Seo wants viewers to feel the sincerity. “Five years ago, some people thought a sports variety show shouldn’t be that serious,” he said. “Now, if you’re not genuine, audiences call you out―and I think that’s a good shift. If the brief was to just crack jokes, I wouldn’t have done this. Our players are putting their whole hearts into improving, growing for their own dreams, and ultimately tasting the thrill of winning. I hope people see that authenticity.”
Seo admitted the toughest part of coaching is deciding rotations and minutes―pressure he remembers all too well from 2020. Even so, he returned because, as he put it, “Basketball is my core identity. I feel Korean basketball has been stuck compared to other sports. If this show gets even a few more people to care about basketball, that’s something I should be doing.”
"Rising Eagles" premieres Saturday, Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. KST on SBS.
[Photo: Baik Seung-Chul]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)