Busan KCC is ranked fifth in the 2023-2024 Junggwanjang Professional Basketball League. It fell to eighth place with four consecutive wins and one loss at the beginning of the season, but it joined the mid-ranking fight with two consecutive wins in December. Song Kyo-chang and Ra Gun-ah are finding the real side as they play, and the synergy effect of Choi Jun-yong is as powerful as expected.
However, Lee's performance has yet to be on track. Lee had only five points and 3.1 rebounds for 21 minutes and 46 seconds on average in 17 games. The success rate of free throws (90 percent, 18/20) is high, but the success rate of field throws is only 33 percent. Until last season, Lee's success rate of field throws was 47.5 percent. He also observed 3-pointers (success rate of 34.4 percent).
"I think I lost my confidence because the season started when I couldn't play well after returning from the national team. If I lose confidence in shooting, my opponent team will focus more on defending foreign players," coach Jeon Chang-jin said.
Despite experiencing a slump, KCC is also well aware of Lee's true value. They just silently wait for the "head-necked tiger" to come back. "Seung-hyun is definitely a necessary player for the team. He is still doing well in defense and rebounding. (Song) Kyo-chang and (Choi) Jun-yong cannot play for 30 minutes consistently, and Seung-hyun is not a Tae-up player. He is a player with strong sense of responsibility," coach Jeon Chang-jin said, hoping for Lee's revival.
Choi Joon-yong also said, "A lot of people talk bad about Seung-hyun. There is talk about his condition and physical condition, but any player cannot do well every day. The team situation inevitably reduces Seung-hyun's role, but it's not that he doesn't do his part just because he can't see it. Seung-hyun is doing his best in the role he can play in defense."
"Seung-hyun is coming out to help (Song) Kyo-chang defend. That's why it's so convenient to run with Seung-hyun and (D) Gun-ah. It's amazing because they fight inside whenever they stand outside. Thanks to them, we were able to win the DB (on May 15). Seung-hyun's performance will come up on his own," he said. The head coach and teammates are all waiting for the revival of the "head-neck tiger."