Nikolajs Mazurs, the first-ever foreign head coach to lead South Korea's men's basketball team to an Asian Games gold medal in 12 years, expressed his joy, calling the victory a milestone of great significance for the basketball community.

Speaking at a press conference following the men's basketball final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, where his team claimed the gold medal, Mazurs said, "I want to thank the fans and everyone who supported us."

The men's basketball national team, led by Coach Mazurs, secured the championship by defeating Japan 67-57 in the final.

This marks South Korea's fifth gold medal in men's basketball at the Asian Games, and the first in 12 years since the 2014 Incheon Games.

Appointed as the first foreign head coach of the South Korean men's national basketball team late last year, Coach Mazurs achieved this remarkable feat in just nine months.

Following a humiliating seventh-place finish at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held in 2023, the national team prepared for this Asian Games by rebuilding the squad around Lee Hyun-jung, who has been regarded as a pillar and future ace.

Despite facing continuous criticism since taking office due to lackluster performances and game content, Coach Mazurs turned things around by winning the gold medal on one of the biggest stages.

Reflecting on the journey, Coach Mazurs said, "There were many ups and downs along the way to get here, but I think we found a way to grow as a team and achieved a good result in this tournament."

Regarding the criticism he faced, he calmly remarked, "I think there will always be people who dislike me and doubt me. The job of a coach itself is that everyone loves you when you win, and everyone hates you when you lose."

He added, "Having gone through various ups and downs over my 20-year coaching career, what I want to say is that whether we win or lose, I remain the same. I tried to play my own brand of basketball without paying attention to the reactions of the media or fans when we lost."

Under contract until 2027, Coach Mazurs faced an uncertain future with South Korean basketball if the team had underperformed at these Asian Games. However, by fulfilling the long-awaited goal of a gold medal, he will continue his journey with upcoming challenges such as the FIBA World Cup and the Olympics.

"I believe every championship is a new beginning for something," Coach Mazurs said. "The better the national team performs, the more passionately younger players will pursue basketball, gaining motivation to advance to bigger stages."

He also noted, "I suppose the players who earned military service exemptions with today's gold medal will have an especially happy day."

Lee Hyun-jung, who played a pivotal role in winning the gold medal through his stellar performance throughout the tournament, is one of those players.

Having continuously pursued opportunities in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Lee will now be able to continue his overseas career with greater freedom thanks to this gold medal.

Praising Lee, Coach Mazurs said, "He is a player who truly loves his country. He is always ready to come and work hard whenever the national team calls."

He shared, "Recently, in a short span of time, Lee Hyun-jung traveled between Jincheon, the United States, and Lebanon, practically circling the globe nearly three times. It must have been tough, and that showed a bit in August, but he was able to recover his rhythm and physical condition through the tune-up matches against the Philippines in early September."

Coach Mazurs encouraged him further, stating, "Lee Hyun-jung grabs rebounds, blocks shots, steals, shoots three-pointers, drives to draw fouls, and shoots free throws. He did everything to win and showed growth in every single match. He was amazing, and he is a wonderful player."