“I thought it was up to the challenge, and I prepared it with the intention of taking the consequences. That’s how you can dream.”
Lee Dae-sung, who declared his challenge on the overseas stage as a free agent (FA) in professional basketball, was firm. In a telephone interview with KBS, the word Lee Dae-sung mentioned the most was “dream,” not money. Lee Dae-sung, who became an FA at the Korea Gas Corporation after the 2022-2023 season, is currently one of the “uncontracted players.” He is aiming to advance to the Australian League.
■ “Forgoing FA contract to advance to Australia…””The club also loses.”안전놀이터
According to the current FA system, if a free agent is announced immediately after the end of the season, a 15-day autonomous negotiation period between the club and the player will be given. You can freely negotiate and sign contracts with all clubs, including the original team.
Players who failed to sign a contract during this period will receive letters of intent for the next three days. At this time, a player who has received a letter of intent to recruit must sign a contract with one of the submitted clubs. If not signed, he will become a “no-admission player” and lose his KBL player qualification for five years. In fact, it is a “five-year disciplinary action.”
Daegu Korea Gas Corporation said on the 20th, during the FA autonomous negotiations, “Lee Dae-sung is trying to advance overseas after consultation with the club, and he did not sign a contract in respect of the player’s will.” In an interview with KBS, Lee Dae-sung thanked the club.
“The Korea Gas Corporation and two other clubs have contacted me. But I spoke politely without asking the price. I want to go abroad. However, even if you don’t sign an FA contract through autonomous negotiations, if there is a club that offers a letter of intent, the player doesn’t have the option to reject it. If you don’t sign a contract, you won’t be able to play for five years. That’s why the Korea Gas Corporation informed other clubs of my challenge to advance overseas. I did my part.”
■ “I’m going to put up with a lot of things to go abroad”
In order for Lee Dae-sung to be truly free under the current system, there should be no club that submits a letter of intent to recruit him. However, it is not an area for Lee Dae-sung to choose from, so Lee Dae-sung is determined to accept all the results with the feeling of “a great thousand people.”
“I have a child and a family, but I can’t just take a reckless challenge. But I believe playing in a bigger league will come back for a bigger price. Even if there is a club that submits a letter of intent, I will not sign a contract to advance abroad. If that happens, you will receive a penalty (qualification suspension), but I have been preparing to advance abroad with the intention of taking this as well. That’s how you can dream.”
■ Preparing to enter Australia…Three to four teams offered recruitment a year ago, and they are still looking into it. “There is a price for the challenge, but it won’t stop.”
Lee Dae-sung is looking for a team that can play through a local agent in Australia. A year ago, he received offers from three to four teams, including Perth, and is expected to be possible because he proved his value as the No. 1 domestic player in the KBL regular league last season. For now, I am thinking about Australia rather than Japan.
“I think there should be players who challenge in bigger leagues to be competitive in Korean basketball like Ryu Hyun-jin of baseball and Son Heung-min of soccer. But in the current FA system, the challenge seems to come at a price. But I’m still going to try it. Someone has to run into it, so they can find a better way.”
Lee Dae-sung’s goal is not just in Australia. I think it will reach the juniors and colleagues of Korean basketball who dream the same dream. Now that the career paths of big-name players such as Choi Joon-yong, Oh Se-geun, and Yang Hong-seok have been decided, basketball fans are looking at Lee Dae-sung, “Will there be a KBL player who challenges the Australian League?” and “Or will he advance to the KBL?”
