Wikipedia

Korean Basketball League draft

The Korean Basketball League rookie draft (Korean: 한국프로농구 신인드래프트) is an annual event that allows teams to take turns selecting amateur basketball players and other eligible players. Eligible players attend a series of try-outs organized by the KBL roughly analogous to the NFL Scouting Combine and NBA Draft Combine, where they have their height, arm span and other measurements taken. Their predicted draft rankings are not based solely on their performances during the try-outs as players are evaluated much earlier from their performances during the U-League season, at high school tournaments or in the senior national team.

Eligibility

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Only South Korean citizens (FIBA-registered nationality) are eligible to be drafted. Foreign players are drafted separately due to an existing foreign player quota while foreign players who have a Korean parent but hold a foreign nationality may be drafted through the ethnic draft and not be counted as a foreign player.

The applicant must first be registered with the Korean Basketball Association as an amateur in order to be eligible for the draft. Regardless of background, all applicants must apply through a "general public draft" (Korean: 일반인 드래프트).[1][2] Generally, there are two categories of applicants:[3]

  • 1) Players enrolled in and playing for a university registered as a Division 1 member of the Korean Universities Basketball Federation (KUBF)
  • 2) Other categories of amateur players, which include:
    • High school students in their final year of high school (Korean: 고3; high school senior) who wish to enter the professional league without playing college basketball
    • South Korean nationals who played for a high school or university team outside South Korea
    • Undrafted players from the previous year
    • University students playing for a KUBF Division 2 institution[4]
    • Players from a KUBF Division 1-member institution but had taken a leave of absence from the team and wish to return

All players go through a try-out and have their height, weight and arm span measurements taken. Players from the first category are then automatically added to the KBL's rookie list while players from the second category must pass another try-out which includes playing in a series of 3x3 and 5x5 games, with KBL scouts and coaches in attendance. Their names are then added to the rookie list if nominated.[3]

Venue

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From its inception until 2012, the draft took place in a hotel convention room or exhibition hall. Since 2013, it has taken place at the Jamsil Students' Gymnasium in Seoul. Prior to COVID-19, family members and selected guests, mainly the candidates' college teammates or coaches, were allowed to attend.

List of first overall picks

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^ Denotes players who have been voted into the KBL All-Time Legend 12
* Denotes players who have won the KBL Most Valuable Player Award
Player
(in italic text) 		Rookie of the Year
PPG Points per game[a]
APG Assists per game[a]
RPG Rebounds per game[a]
Draft Player Selected by College Draft venue KBL rookie statistics Ref.
PPG APG RPG
1998 Hyun Joo-yup^ Cheongju SK Knights Korea University Hilton Hotel, Seoul 23.9 4.6 6.4 [5][6]
1999 Cho Sang-hyun Gwangju Nasan Flamans Yonsei University Seoul Education and Culture Center
2000 Lee Kyu-sup Suwon Samsung Thunders Korea University
2001 Song Young-jin Changwon LG Sakers Chung-Ang University
2002 Kim Joo-sung*^ Wonju TG Xers Chung-Ang University
2003 Kim Dong-woo Ulsan Mobis Automons Yonsei University
2004 Yang Dong-geun*^ Jeonju KCC Egis Hanyang University
2005 Bang Sung-yoon Busan KTF Magic Wings Yonsei University
2006 Jeon Jeong-gyu Incheon Electroland Black Slammer Yonsei University
2007 Kim Tae-sul Seoul SK Knights Yonsei University Seoul Education and Culture Center
2008 Ha Seung-jin Jeonju KCC Egis Yonsei University
2009 Park Sung-jin Incheon Electroland Black Slammer Chung-Ang University
2010 Park Chan-hee Anyang KT&G Kites Kyung Hee University
2011 Oh Se-keun* Anyang KGC Chung-Ang University
Jan 2012[b] Kim Si-rae Ulsan Mobis Phoebus Myongji University
Oct 2012[b] Jang Jae-seok Seoul SK Knights Chung-Ang University Renaissance Hotel, Seoul [7]
2013 Kim Jong-kyu Changwon LG Sakers Kyung Hee University Jamsil Students' Gymnasium
2014 Lee Seoung-hyun Goyang Orion Orions Korea University Jamsil Students' Gymnasium 10.9 2.0 5.1 [8][9]
2015 Moon Seong-gon Anyang KGC Korea University Jamsil Students' Gymnasium 1.7 0.3 1.0 [10][11]
2016 Lee Jong-hyun Ulsan Mobis Phoebus Korea University Jamsil Students' Gymnasium 10.5 2.2 8.0 [12][13]
2017 Heo Hoon* Busan KT Sonicboom Yonsei University Jamsil Students' Gymnasium 10.6 4.3 2.0 [14][15]
2018 Park Jun-young Busan KT Sonicboom Korea University Jamsil Students' Gymnasium 3.6 0.9 2.6 [16][17]
2019 Park Jeong-hyun Changwon LG Sakers Korea University Jamsil Students' Gymnasium 2.1 0.4 1.9 [18][19]
2020 Cha Min-seok Seoul Samsung Thunders Jemulpo High School Jamsil Students' Gymnasium 4.8 0.9 3.4 [20][21]
2021 Lee Won-seok Seoul Samsung Thunders Yonsei University
2022 Yang Jun-seok Changwon LG Sakers Yonsei University [22]
2023 Moon Jeong-hyeon Suwon KT Sonicboom Korea University

First overall picks by university

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# of times University Years
9 Yonsei University 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2017, 2021, 2022
7 Korea University 1998, 2000, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023
4 Chung-Ang University 2001, 2002, 2009, 2012[c]
2 Kyung Hee University 2010, 2013
1 Hanyang University 2004
Myongji University 2012[d]

History

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The KBL rookie draft initially took place in January or February as it was the end of the academic year and all draft prospects were college seniors. An issue which arose from the timing of the draft was the fact that rookies only joined their teams towards the end of the KBL season, which runs from October to March the following year. They had little time gel with their new teammates or acclimatize to the professional game.

Beginning with 2012, the draft was scheduled in October or November, at the conclusion of the U-League season.[23] Players from college teams will finish the season and declare eligibility for the upcoming draft before participating in the try-outs. They would generally join their new teams during the second round of the season.[24] The timing of the draft day posed a "sink or swim" scenario for rookies as they had little time to familiarize themselves with their new teammates and coaches: rookies who are able to adapt to the professional league quickly enough are integrated into the main team by the end of the season while those unable to do so spend most of the season in the D-League (reserves).

The 2021 draft was moved back a month to September due to the abbreviated U-League season. The move was met with positive responses from players and teams as it allowed rookies to join pre-season training with their new teams.[25]

Since the 2014 draft, there has been an increase in high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors being picked earlier.[26][27] Cha Min-seok was the first high school senior to be picked first overall.[28] Yonsei University sophomore Lee Won-seok, first overall pick of the 2021 draft, was the first to have not been a college senior.[29][30]

Notable drafts

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Korean-language basketball magazine Rookie and newspaper Sports Dong-a have both retrospectively dubbed the 2007 draft as the "Golden Draft".[31][32] Compared to past and present draft classes, as of the 2020–21 season, more players from this draft have won the KBL Championship and continued to play regularly in their respective teams into their mid-thirties.[31][33] The draft produced two KBL Most Valuable Player Award winners, statistical leaders and several "one club men" who spent entire decade-long careers with their original teams.

Other notable draft years include 2008, 2011 and 2014. Although not on the level of the 2007, the aforementioned drafts are viewed as "high-level" due to the larger numbers of first round draftees who have gone on to establish themselves as first-option players for their respective teams, won individual awards and called-up to the national team for international tournaments.

The 2017 draft was initially derided as a "worst ever" draft as only several players stood out from their performances in the U-League. It has since been retrospectively re-evaluated as a "high-level" draft as half of the first round picks have gone on to establish themselves in their teams and been selected for the national team.[34]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c All statistics are taken from the players' respective rookie season unless otherwise noted.
  2. ^ a b Prior to 2012, the draft took place in late January when college players conclude their academic year. However, it presented a problem as it meant that college players could only join their teams at the end of the professional regular season. In the year 2012, there were two drafts: one in February and one in October. Since 2013, the draft has taken place in October.
  3. ^ October draft
  4. ^ January draft

References

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  1. ^ "2017 KBL 국내신인선수 드래프트 참가신청 안내" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League. August 30, 2017.
  2. ^ "2012~2013시즌 KBL 국내선수 드래프트 개최 안내" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League. September 6, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "일반인 드래프트, 어떻게 뽑는거야?". Basketball Life (농구인생) (in Korean). August 15, 2017.
  4. ^ "[MBC대학농구] 프로 꿈꾸는 초당대 강영준, 2부 대학의 희망". Rookie (in Korean). July 16, 2012.
  5. ^ 김종수 (2022-04-27). "현주엽 1순위… 7순위 신기성은 신인왕". m.jumpball.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  6. ^ "현주엽 정규경기 시즌별 기록". kbl.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  7. ^ "프로농구 KT, 드래프트 1순위로 장재석 영입(종합)". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). October 8, 2021.
  8. ^ ""프로농구 두목 될래요" 1순위 이승현 오리온스로". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). September 18, 2014.
  9. ^ "Players — Lee Seoung-hyun — Profile & Statistics" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League.
  10. ^ "프로농구 인삼공사, 신인 전체 1순위로 문성곤 지명(종합)". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). October 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "Players — Moon Seong-gon — Profile & Statistics" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League.
  12. ^ "이종현, "기둥 심으며 집이 어떻게 지어질지 기대되는 선수…모비스 리빌딩 시간 반으로 줄였다" 프로농구 드래프트 전체 1순위로 모비스행". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). October 18, 2016.
  13. ^ "Players — Lee Jong-hyun — Profile & Statistics" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League.
  14. ^ "프로농구 신인 드래프트 1순위 뽑힌 '허재 아들' 허훈 "KBL 판도 뒤집겠다"". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). October 30, 2017.
  15. ^ "Players — Heo Hoon — Profile & Statistics" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League.
  16. ^ "[KBL드래프트]전체 1순위 박준영 인터뷰 "최악의 세대 아니란 걸 증명하겠다"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). November 26, 2018.
  17. ^ "Players — Park Jun-young — Profile & Statistics" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League.
  18. ^ "프로농구 대졸 '최대어' 박정현, 엘지 유니폼". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). November 4, 2019.
  19. ^ "Players — Park Jeong-hyun — Profile & Statistics" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League.
  20. ^ "[표] 2020 KBL 국내 신인선수 드래프트 결과". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). November 23, 2020.
  21. ^ "Players — Cha Min-seok — Profile & Statistics" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League.
  22. ^ "KBL, '2022 신인 드래프트 소개 페이지' 26일 오픈". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). September 26, 2022.
  23. ^ "'거물 신예들' 전력판도 뒤흔든다". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). October 10, 2012.
  24. ^ "[민준구의 타임머신] 이제는 추억이 된 'WINTER' KBL 신인 드래프트" (in Korean). Daum News. January 3, 2020.
  25. ^ "'봄 농구' 앞둔 KBL, 신인왕 레이스는". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). March 17, 2022.
  26. ^ "'2·3순위' 양홍석-유현준, 거셌던 얼리 엔트리 바람". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). October 30, 2017.
  27. ^ "농구인 2세 이원석, 1순위로 삼성 입단....조기참가자 대세 이어져". Sport Seoul (in Korean). September 28, 2021.
  28. ^ "농구코트 '얼리 엔트리' 바람". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). December 3, 2020.
  29. ^ "쏟아지는 얼리 엔트리, 2020 신인 드래프트 풍성해진다". BasketKorea (in Korean). September 4, 2020.
  30. ^ "잇따른 얼리 선언, KBL 드래프트 기대감 고조". Rookie (in Korean). August 18, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "KBL '황금세대' 클래스 뽐내는 1984년생 동기들". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). December 8, 2020.
  32. ^ "[이동환의 앤드원] 2007 황금 드래프트의 과거와 현재". Rookie (in Korean). 17 February 2021.
  33. ^ "[KBL PO] '김영환부터 함지훈까지' 오랜 경쟁자들과 만난 양희종". Jumpball (in Korean). April 19, 2021.
  34. ^ ""우리가 미래다!" KBL에 젊은 바람 불어넣는 '17년 드래프티'". BasketKorea (in Korean). December 11, 2019.
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