"Heo Jae vs. Lee Hyun-jung" Spark GOAT Debate... "Similar Skill Levels," What Do KBL Master Coaches Say?

Following the South Korean national team's victory in the men's basketball tournament at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 20, a debate has begun to ignite over whether national team ace Lee Hyun-jung qualifies as the "Greatest of All Time" (GOAT).

A "GOAT debate" has unfolded centering around social media.

Former head coach Heo Jae, widely regarded as the most brilliant player in Korean basketball history, is being named as Lee Hyun-jung's rival in the comparison.

Chun Hee-chul, who temporarily took the helm of the national team, said in an interview with Sports Chosun that Lee Hyun-jung "has already risen to the ranks of South Korea's all-time basketball greats."

Regarding the comparison with former coach Heo, he stated, "In terms of individual skill, Heo Jae might be better, but considering his impact on the team and the effects he brings to the squad both on and off the court, I think they are on equal footing."

Yoo Jae-hak, the KBL Game Director often referred to as a "master coach" of the KBL, also heaped high praise on Lee Hyun-jung.

Director Yoo remarked, "It makes no sense for a shooter to play defense and grab rebounds like that," adding, "While Heo Jae is certainly the greatest player in Korean basketball history, Lee Hyun-jung is the greatest player in Korean history in a different aspect."

He further stated, "Taking into account his demeanor off the court beyond just his on-field performance, I think Lee Hyun-jung can surpass Heo Jae."

Earlier, in the men's basketball final held on September 20, Lee Hyun-jung recorded 27 points with a 63% shooting accuracy.

In particular, he displayed tremendous grit by hauling down 18 rebounds as a scoring ace.

Japanese media outlets also expressed continuous admiration.

Nikkan Sports evaluated that "Lee Hyun-jung dominated the game and was definitely on a different level," while the basketball-専門 media outlet The Answer expressed awe, stating, "Lee Hyun-jung occupies a position similar to Japanese NBA star Rui Hachimura."

Attention from basketball fans is now focused on whether Lee Hyun-jung, who led the team to its first Asian Games title in 12 years and is challenging himself in the NBA, can ultimately surpass Heo Jae and be named the undisputed "GOAT."

(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Chang Yu-jin | Design by Sumin Lee | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.