National Treasure Center, Seo Jang-hoon

There was a Seo Jang-hoon rumor circulating in Qatar at the Doha Asian Games last December. A coach of an amateur event announced that, “Seo Jang-hoon told his juniors that a professional only needs to perform best on his team. Do not use all your energy in the Asian Games” when he was in the Taereung Training Center. With the national team failing to win, Seo’s absurd remark seemed to be true. We met Seo in the gym of the professional basketball team of Samsung in Yongin on Thursday.

“I am truly sorry for the bad score. However, as the oldest player of the national team, I would have stressed mentality to my juniors and have not said anything like it.”

Seo (33, Samsung) has been a Korean squad member since he was a freshman in Yonsei University. Counting his experience on the youth team, he has worn the national flag for 17 years. He made his debut in 1993-1994 by being rewarded with the defense, rebounding and newcomer prizes and MVP prize in the basketball festival. Then from the 1998-1999 season, he played in the professional game and became a top five domestic player and scoring king except in one season. He received two MVPs in the regular league as well. In the 2002 Busan Asian Games he defeated China and became number one. With all these achievements, it is no wonder that his nickname is “national treasure center.” However, despite his outstanding capabilities, he has a lot of critics. Why is that?

Seo is not good at managing his facial expression and his anger is shown through the TV quite often.

“From my college years two players have always marked me. When I go for a shot, one player gets in front of me and the other stealthily hits me from the back. The referee who did not see the foul does not give any penalties. When I stay quiet in this situation, I become the bad guy. I have to make an objection for the team.”

We asked if he could make an objection without frowning that much.

“My impression is not that friendly. Furthermore, I believe that managing your image in a fierce game is not professional.”

His disagreement with the coach came up as an issue now and then.

“Every team can have a difference of opinion between the coach and the players. Other player’s disagreements just do not get as much attention as mine. I think it is because people just think that I look like someone who will fight with the coach as well.”

Seo’s anti-fans say that he plays basketball cheekily. They criticize that he avoids hard body contact under the goal and tries only to shoot from the outside.

“In our team, there are three tall players including me and two other tactical players. Therefore when we play a game against any other team, out of three opposite defenses, one player is short. When a short player marks me, I go under the goal. But when I play against a tall player, I lead him away from it.”

Up to date, he scored 8,699 points and 3,576 rebounds in regular league play. Seo’s goal is to reach 10,000 points and 5,000 rebounds after playing three or four more years. Both are the records of Korean basketball.

After missing five games due to injury, Seo returned and scored an average of 21.5 points in two games. He will become the second FA after this season.

“FA is something to worry about later. I want to be proud until I retire by urging myself on. I am confident of my strength. As I get older, I became calmer. I will restrain myself now as I had a strong character. I was criticized a lot before. I hope that basketball fans will see me with a generous eye.”

why@donga.com