"Six-Game Losing Streak Against Iran? I Wasn't There Back Then"... Asia's Top Shooter Lee Hyun-jung's Unmatched Dominance [Nagoya AG]

[Financial News] "A six-game losing streak against Iran? I didn't care about that at all. I wasn't there back then."
The man who broke the stubborn chain of misfortune that had bound South Korean men's basketball for 12 years showed no hesitation. It was the bold, intimidating confidence that only an ace who has completely overpowered his opponent through sheer ability can possess.
South Korea's men's national basketball team, ranked 57th by FIBA and coached by Latvia's Nikolajs Mazurs, routed Iran, ranked 28th, 77-51 in the semifinal of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on the 18th. Having secured at least a silver medal, South Korea reached the final for the first time in 12 years since the 2014 Incheon Games and moved one step closer to reclaiming its lost status as Asia's dominant basketball power.

Lee Hyun-jung was unquestionably the dominant player. He completely took over the court with a monster double-double, scoring a game-high 26 points—including seven 3-pointers—and grabbing 14 rebounds.
When reporters asked Lee Hyun-jung in the mixed zone after the game how he felt about ending South Korea's losing streak against Iran, he shrugged and caused a stir with a concise response: "I wasn't there back then." He then maintained his composure, saying, "It's not over yet. I'm happy we won, but we can play much better than we did today."

South Korea played a flawless game, never allowing Iran to take the lead at any point during the full 40 minutes. The team made 14 3-pointers on 33 attempts, more than its 12 successful 2-point shots, and decided the game from beyond the arc. Asked about his explosive shooting touch, Lee Hyun-jung said, "My condition wasn't anything special. I'm always the same." He added with a smile, "I was just focused on reading the flow of the game, but today the rim felt about 1.3 times larger than usual. Any shooter will know exactly what I mean."
Lee Hyun-jung also displayed the class and humility expected of an ace. "Teams with size tend to be vulnerable in the backcourt and in transition defense, while our strength was our fast transition offense," he said. "It wasn't just me. Thanks to my older teammates Lee Seung-hyun, Jang Jae-seok and Choi Jun-yong, along with Jung Hyun, battling hard in the paint, I was able to grab rebounds comfortably and make the most of my chances from outside."
Having secured the silver medal and built momentum, South Korea will face the winner of China and Japan on the 20th in the final battle for the long-awaited gold medal.
Lee Hyun-jung's focus was unwavering ahead of the decisive game. "It's no longer about who we face; it's about who wants it more," he said. "The more desperately we want it, the more composed we must be on the court. Rather than trying plays we haven't used just because it's the final, we will stick with the basketball we have prepared to play."
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter