The growth rate of Suwon KT Center Ha Yoon-gi (24, 203 cm) is frightening. Based on his experience in the first season of his debut, in his second year as a pro, he is being reborn as a center that is competitive not only in his team but also in the league.
Ha Yoon-gi is recording 14.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists, digesting an average of 28 minutes and 39 seconds in 35 regular league games of the ‘2022-2023 SKT A-Dot Professional Basketball’. His key metrics improved significantly compared to his last season, when he recorded 7.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 21 minutes and 42 seconds in 50 games. He also improved his team defense and ability to solve clutch situations. KT coach Seo Dong-cheol, who had praised the team until the beginning and middle of the season, saying, “There is still a lot of clumsiness,” has now definitely changed his evaluation. 안전놀이터
The biggest strength is consistency. He has scored in double digits in 29 of 35 games this season and has averaged 21 points over his last four games. Thanks to Ha Yoon-gi’s holding up at the bottom of the goal, Jerrod Jones and Yang Hong-seok move more comfortably on the outskirts.
He does not neglect to make an effort to clearly understand team play. Before the home game against Changwon LG on the 29th, I was the last to leave the locker room to ask questions about defensive tactics. Coach Seo said, “Ha Yoon-ki has improved technically, but there are times when I feel like he has become more seasoned.” It’s a very good thing for our team,” he smiled widely. He continued, “I’m not greedy, I just play as a team. Instantaneous judgment, movement without the ball, and one-on-one ability have improved,” he added.
Compared to last season, the shooting distance has also increased. Last season, 234, or 86.7%, of a total of 270 field goal attempts were made in the paint zone. This season, 264, or 73.7%, of 358 field goal attempts were attempted in the paint zone. He actively threw shots even outside the paint zone and expanded the attack route. This also has the effect of pulling out the opponent’s big man when attacking. Coach Seo explained, “Last season, Ha Yoon-ki scored almost no points from the middle shot, but his range of attacks widened as he equipped the middle shot.” For KT, which is striving to advance into the playoffs (PO) after overcoming sluggishness in the early stages, Ha Yoon-gi’s rapid growth is bound to be welcome.