Eddie Daniel: 'My Era of Glory is Just Beginning' - 'Monster Rookie' to Lead Korean Basketball

“I want to be an ‘Energizer’ who never runs out of power, even in the most critical situations. I want to be a player who can make the team run again when everyone else is exhausted.” This is the bold declaration from Eddie Daniel, the highly touted rookie set to make his mark on Korean basketball.

Daniel, 19, spoke these words following an open practice session with the Korean men's national basketball team at the Jincheon National Training Center. He, along with his teammates, is intensely preparing for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers. The team faces Lebanon away on November 28th and then hosts Saudi Arabia in Suwon on November 31st as part of the second round of qualifiers.

Born to an African-British father and a Korean mother, Daniel was selected by SK Knights as a "regionally nominated" player for the 2025-2026 season under the Korean Basketball League's (KBL) development system, which allows teams to pre-select and nurture players from under the age of 14. Daniel is the first player to debut professionally through this unique system after graduating from Yongsan High School in Seoul.

“

I want to be an ‘Energizer’ who never runs out of power, even in the most critical situations. I want to be a player who can make the team run again when everyone else is exhausted.