Hyundai Mobis guard Lee Woo-seok is putting more effort into team basketball.
The Ulsan Hyundai Mobis won 108-77 against the Anyang Jeonggwanjang in the second round of the 2023-2024 Jeonggwanjang Professional Basketball League at Anyang Gymnasium on Jan. 1. With eight wins and eight losses, Hyundai Mobis solidified sole possession of sixth place. They narrowed the gap to half a game with fifth-place Jung Kwan-jang (9-8).
Lee Woo-seok, Hyundai Mobis’ leading guard, played 31 minutes and 52 seconds on the night, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
After the game, Lee said, “Today was a good day. I think the players gained confidence when the shots went in and played aggressively. On defense, everyone did a good job except me. There was a scene where I lost my mind in defense and gave up a goal. I was scolded by the coach again today,” he said with a wry smile.
“I’m trying to reduce that. Today, I think the whole team played better than me, and that’s why we were able to win.”
Lee Woo-seok has been the subject of intense scrutiny from opponents this season. Asian quarterback Ronjay Avarientos, who was the starting guard last season, has moved to the Japanese league, and starting point guard Signe Jin is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
As a result, Lee Woo-seok has been playing more than his fair share of roles this season, including leading the team in scoring.
“There’s definitely a part of it (the opponent’s defense). I have a lot of desire to play basketball well, but there is a part of the game where it becomes a minus for the team if I play (offense by myself). “The coach told me to slow down the tempo by holding the ball for a long time. I’m trying to be more timely in my offense.”
He also said, “Of course, there are differences from last year, but (Kim) Ji-wan is supporting me well. He’s such a veteran. He talks to me a lot and holds me well. In today’s game, he also took the pressure off me.”
This season, Hyundai Mobis is shooting 20.8 percent from three-point range, the lowest in the league. With a 43.3 percent success rate, Lee Woo-seok could use more three-point attempts.
“I want to increase (my attempts), but I can’t do it every time. If I feel good shooting, I’ll shoot confidently, but if I insist on shooting when it’s not going in, my teammates will stop moving. You have to be aware of where your teammates are and find them. I also check the conditions and odds on the day of the game before making a play.”
Finally, he says, “We always talk about raising the team spirit. We try to lighten the mood of the team by having fun outside of basketball. We try to be physical and have a good workout. We also communicate on the court. We try to do that even before we step on the court.”
