Choo Seung-gyun

Choo Seung-gyun (born December 6, 1974) is a South Korean retired professional basketball player and coach. He spent his entire 15-year playing career with Korean Basketball League team Jeonju KCC Egis, who retired his number 4 jersey. After a brief stint in coaching, he became a SPOTV commentator and covers KBL matches.[1]

In this Korean name, the family name is Choo.
Choo Seung-gyun
Personal information
Born (1974-12-06) December 6, 1974
Busan, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Listed height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Career information
CollegeHanyang University
Playing career1997–2012
PositionSmall forward
Coaching career2012–2018
Career history
As player:
1997–2012Daejeon Hyundai Dynat / Hyundai Gullivers / Jeonju KCC Egis
As coach:
2012–2018Jeonju KCC Egis (assistant coach / head coach)
Career highlights and awards
As player
As coach
  • KBL regular season champion (2016)
Medals
Representing  South Korea
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 1998 Bangkok Team
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Team
Choo Seung-gyun
Hangul
추승균
Hanja
秋昇均
Revised RomanizationChu Seung-gyun
McCune–ReischauerCh'u Sŭnggyun

Early life

Choo is a native of Busan. Unlike many of his illustrious contemporaries, he did not attend a notable basketball high school in Seoul, nor did he come from a college basketball powerhouse such as Yonsei or Korea University. He attended Jungang High School in Busan and moved to Seoul where he played for Hanyang University.[2][3]

Playing career

College

As one of the region's biggest prospects, Choo was widely expected to attend Yonsei University or Korea University and raised eyebrows by choosing Hanyang University instead. In a 2012 interview, he stated that the decision was due to his desire to play more regularly and that neither Yonsei nor Korea University could guarantee him playing time as a freshman.[3] In the 1997 National Basketball Festival, he went on to become the competition's top scorer, beating the likes of Seo Jang-hoon (Yonsei) and Hyun Joo-yup (Korea).[3][4] At that time, the duopoly of Yonsei University and Korea University was dominating college competitions and, partly due to Hanyang's poor results, Choo was often overshadowed by the likes of Seo, Hyun, Woo Ji-won, Shin Ki-sung and Chun Hee-chul.[4]

Professional

Choo's career coincided with the founding of the professional Korean Basketball League in 1997.[4] He was signed by Daejeon Hyundai Dynat, which was later taken over by affiliate KCC Corporation and is now Jeonju KCC Egis. During Hyundai's early years, Choo was best known as part of the "Lee-Cho-Choo" trio alongside point guard Lee Sang-min and swingman forward Cho Sung-won which spearheaded the team's domination of the league during its early years.[5] Choo, being the tallest of the threesome, was often tasked with defensive duties and also provided an added option around the paint due to his accurate shooting.[6]

Although Choo was largely overshadowed by his more flamboyant teammates, he gained a reputation for his cool and calm demeanor during high-pressure and clutch situations, which is reflected in the fact that he was the league's free throw percentage leader for a record six seasons. He made the "180 Club", having achieved a 52.4% field goal percentage, 41.3% three-point field goal percentage and 90% free throw percentage during the 2004–05 season.[7] His unflashy yet consistent playing style and clean private life earned him the sobriquet "Silent Strong Man" (Korean: 소리없이 강한 남자), a contrast to colorful nicknames assigned to his contemporaries such as "Rambo Shooter" (Moon Kyung-eun), "Bullet Man" (Shin Ki-sung), "Airborne" (Chun Hee-chul) and "Magic Hippo" (Hyun Joo-yup). He was highly-regarded even by fans of opposing teams; when he scored against Seoul SK Knights in February 2012 to reach 10,000 career points, Knights fans gave him a standing ovation as a mark of respect.[8][9]

Choo announced his retirement at the end of the 2011–12 season.[10] His number 4 jersey was retired by the club.[11] During his final season as a player, he became the second player in KBL history to reach the career benchmark of 10,000 points and made the playoffs for a record 13th time.[12]

National team

Choo participated in the 1998 FIBA World Cup and the 1998 and 2002 Asian Games.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Choo remained at Jeonju KCC Egis as a member of the coaching staff under Hur Jae, having previously played under him. He took over Hur as head coach in 2015.[6][13] Choo's first season was a success as he led them to the play-off finals and first place in the league table. However, his next season was plagued by injury to key players and Jeonju KCC Egis finished at the bottom of the league. The 2018–19 season did not begin any better and he voluntarily resigned in November 2018, fourteen games into the season. At the time of his resignation, Jeonju KCC Egis was 7th in the league table.[14]

Other activities

Choo joined SPOTV as a commentator in January 2021.[15] He mainly covers weekend KBL games.[1]

Choo runs a YouTube channel called ChooSama TV (추사마 TV), "ChooSama" being the nickname given to him by fans during his playing days. He mainly discusses current events in the KBL, basketball tactics and players.[16][17]

Personal life

Choo married Lee Yoon-jung in 2004.[18] The couple have two sons.[19]

See also

References
  1. "SPOTV 추승균 해설위원, 처음으로 KCC 경기 중계 맡다". Jumpball (in Korean). January 9, 2021.
  2. "부산 중앙고 농구부, 기적을 쏜 '헝그리 베스트 5'". Busan Ilbo (in Korean). May 16, 2012.
  3. "[스페셜 1편] 추승균, 한양대를 선택한 이유는?" (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. March 26, 2012.
  4. "대학리그 득점왕 추승균 프로농구무대 최고스타 꿈 키워". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). January 9, 1997.
  5. "'허동택'-'이조추' — 추억의 트리오 대결". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). January 24, 2013.
  6. "대전 현대 ->전주 KCC, 계속 지켜온 명가의 자존심". BasketKorea (in Korean). March 24, 2020.
  7. "170클럽, 이 기록 앞에선 조던도 조성민 아래". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). January 21, 2014.
  8. "소리없이 강한 남자에 가장 큰 기립박수". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). February 26, 2012.
  9. "'소리없이 강한 남자' 추승균, 숨은 야심 이룰까". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). April 5, 2010.
  10. "Choo calls it quits". The Korea Herald. March 15, 2012.
  11. "프로농구 삼성, 이상민·서장훈 영구결번 발표했다 철회 소동". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). January 28, 2018.
  12. "<프로농구> KCC 추승균 기록행진 PO서도 계속된다". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). March 5, 2012.
  13. "<프로농구> '소리없이 강한 우승' 일궈낸 '초보' 추승균 감독". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). February 21, 2016.
  14. "KCC 프랜차이즈 스타 출신 추승균 감독 불명예 퇴진". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). November 15, 2018.
  15. "해설위원 된 추승균 "코트 다시 서니까 설렌다"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). December 30, 2020.
  16. "추승균 해설위원, 유튜브 채널 '추사마 TV'로 팬들과 소통 나서". Rookie (in Korean). August 23, 2021.
  17. "추사마 [추승균]". YouTube.
  18. "추승균 부부, 방송 최초 아내 공개! "내 아내는 볼수록 새롭다"" (in Korean). MBC. January 11, 2011.
  19. "[프로농구]KCC 해결사 추승균 출산앞둔 아내 곁으로". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). April 4, 2006.
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