"Discussing former senior player Heo Jae and Lee Hyun-jung is like discussing Michael Jordan and LeBron James," said Seoul SK Knights Head Coach Jeon Hee-chul.

The media day event for the upcoming professional basketball season was held today (the 29th) afternoon at the Blue Square WooriWON Banking Hall in Yongsan-gu, allowing head coaches and players from each team to share their resolutions in front of reporters and fans.

It was also the first time basketball figures gathered in one place since the men's national basketball team captured its first gold medal in 12 years at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Among basketball fans, a "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) debate has emerged centering around Lee Hyun-jung, who delivered top-tier performances and led the national team to victory at the Asian Games.

The legend most frequently mentioned alongside Lee is former KCC coach Heo Jae, widely known as the "Basketball President."

When asked by reporters whether Lee Hyun-jung is truly the GOAT of Korean basketball, Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Head Coach Yoo Do-hoon, who took the microphone first, slightly sidestepped the question.

Yoo said, "Lee Hyun-jung's mentality makes a senior basketball player feel a sense of respect. For now, Lee is the best in South Korea," adding, "There have been many other great seniors in the past, and I hope that top players like Lee continue to emerge in South Korea."

Busan KCC Head Coach Lee Sang-min, who faced former coach Heo on the professional stage during his active playing days and shared meals with him on the national team, made a definitive choice.

Coach Lee stated, "I've been asked this question a lot," and added, "Having shared national team life with him, going to the World Championships and the Olympics, I always think it's Heo Jae without change."

He continued, "There is a lot of talk about Hyun-jung these days. He is an exceptionally talented player who will lead the next generation of Korean basketball," but emphasized, "However, for me, older brother Heo Jae is the best."

Seoul SK Head Coach Jeon Hee-chul played alongside former coach Heo during his playing career and also has experience coaching Lee Hyun-jung.

He temporarily served as the national team head coach from November to December of last year, achieving two consecutive wins against China with Lee Hyun-jung for the first time in 12 years.

Coach Jeon said, "I think the destructive power they exert on game performance is nearly the same."

He continued, "While it is difficult to determine the GOAT," he added, "If I had to choose one of the two players, I would go with Heo Jae."

Korean basketball has a "tradition" of winning a gold medal at the Asian Games every 12 years.

Head Coaches Moon Kyung-eun of Suwon kt and Yang Dong-geun of Ulsan Hyundai Mobis, who were key figures in the gold medal victories at the Busan 2002 and Incheon 2014 tournaments respectively, shared their thoughts on watching their juniors win.

Coach Moon said, "We won the gold medal [in 2002] through teamwork, will, and grit," adding, "Watching them pass the preliminaries, go through the tournaments, and reach the finals this time, it was clear that their grit and goals were united with one heart."

Coach Yang stated, "Playing the final against Japan in Japan, under poor conditions regarding accommodation and bus issues, they did not waver. Our players were stronger than expected," and added, "Even now, I get goosebumps. I want to take this opportunity to tell them they worked very hard."

Also attending today's media day were Ahn Young-jun (SK), who missed the Asian Games due to injury, and Moon Jung-hyun (kt), who was selected for the national team in place of Ahn and won a gold medal.

Moon Jung-hyun said, "I want to tell Young-jun hyung that I'm grateful. I'd like to buy him something, but his salary is so high that it probably wouldn't mean much," and joked, "There is a delicious galbi restaurant in Suwon. If you come once, I'll treat you big time. I'll treat your whole family, too."

(Photo: Yonhap News)