November 20, 2024

I was filled with child-like excitement as I arrived at the Changwon LG Sakers Arena back on November 3rd . It had been almost seven months since I last stepped foot on campus – the unfortunate time when the Sakers were eliminated from the playoffs.

But instead of seeing the bustle of fans with gifts and coffee in one hand and phones in the other, I saw one lone soul. The outdoor corridors of the arena were eerily quiet and empty.

Where was everyone? It was about 2.5 hours before tip-off. Was I too late or too early? Or was it the Lee Gwanhee trade effect (considering many of the fans who waited before the games last season were Lee Gwanhee fans)? With Gwanhee gone to Wonju, it would make logical sense his fans would follow him. In a lot of ways, I did expect this, but it still made me a little sad. (To be fair, there were many fans waiting after the game.)

But my fleeting moment of sadness quickly dissipated when I recognized the lone fan who was there. She welcomed me with a smile of recognition and even gave me a piece of chocolate that she had made. It truly was comforting seeing a familiar face, and it reminded me why I was there in the first place: to watch LG basketball, see all the returning LG players, meet with all the new ones(half the team is new), as well as see the former ones.

Soon after, Jeon Seong Hyun, veteran and KBL king of the arc (three-point shooting), quickly strolled in. He is the player LG received in the Lee Jae Do trade and who is making a gradual comeback from a back/spinal injury that sidelined him last season. Jang Min Guk, the 35-year-old veteran forward who spent last season in Japan’s B League, followed after. Darryl Monroe, 38-year-old forward hailing from Virginia, USA, was the first import I saw. (In the two road games I attended, he arrived in a taxi earlier than the team. I learned that he has a routine that starts earlier than most of his teammates.)

I went back to my routine of recording arrivals and even asked players a question as well: MJ or Kobe? I continued this activity post game and included players from Mobis Phoebus. It was rather fun!

I was so happy to be back in Changwon. Even though LG went on to lose the game, the fan experience made up for it. The atmosphere is electric, the chants and music are catchy, vibes and energy are great, and the fans are some of the most welcoming!

A local friend helped me purchase my ticket for that day, and I ended up sitting next to another person I knew. She gave me a box of nachos that came with a player trading card. This was another example of the Changwon hospitality that I have come to know.

By the end of my trip, I had attended four LG Sakers games in four different cities in a span of 10 days. These were in addition to the two DB games, making it six total. Although LG went on to lose all four games (and as of press time, they are in a seven-game losing streak), my trip still had memorable moments and highlights. They included:

• All the current and former LG players remembered me. I was very touched by that.

• Seeing LG guard Yu Kisang after the home game and after over two hours of waiting for him. I was so tired and jet lagged, but I had promised an international fan that I would get his autograph for her. He had a random drug test performed on him, and it took so long that it was dark by the time he got out. There were no outdoor lights on; I had to use my cell phone light. I accidentally flashed the bright lights on him. Lol. I then asked if he could say hello to her in a video. He had trouble pronouncing her name, but that added to the cuteness of it.

• Seeing former LG guard Justin Gutang, who is arguably the sweetest player in the KBL. As soon as he saw me, he greeted me with a hug. The sweetness continued when he reunited with his former LG teammates. I’m sure Justin’s highlight was beating his old team.

And, of course, seeing former LG guard Lee Gwanhee. My trip to S. Korea would never be complete without seeing him. And I got to see and talk with him twice.

Despite highlights, this was probably my least favorite trip this year. I think it’s because I only attended one game in Changwon, LG lost all the games I attended, the Wonju experience wasn’t the best, and I got sick.

I do have tentative plans to return to Korea by the end of the year, but nothing has been confirmed yet. I would like to experience a Sakers’ win. Despite the current setback, I still believe LG can pull together a winning season. They have the talent and experience to do it.

Read all the South Korea here…